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ANNALS 



@mn ^nmm: 



FROM ITS 



FIRST ESTABLISHMENT IN 1818, 



DISSOLUTION IN 1855. 



COMPILED BT 



i-^' 



JOSEPH M. WIGHTMAN. 



r 



r' 



c7^ 




BOSTON: 
GEO. C. RAND & AVERY, CITY PRINTERS, 

1860. 



TO 

HON. JAMES SAVAGE, LL.D., 

ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL AND MOST ACTIVE ORIGINATORS, AND THE 
ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE ORIGINAL OFFICERS OF 

THE PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 

AS AN EXPRESSION OF THE RESPECT, ESTEEM, 
AND VENERATION OF 

THE COMPILER. 



PRELIMINARY CORRESPONDENCE. 



Boston, August 27th, 1859. 

Hon. Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr., Mayor : 

Dear Sir, — At the final meeting of the Primary School Commit- 
tee, held on the evening of January 2d, 1855, at which time it ceased to 
exist as an organized body of the City Government, I presented a brief 
historical sketch of some of the leading incidents connected with this 
branch of the Boston Public Schools. 

By a vote of the Board, I was requested to have it printed for the use 
of the members, if, in the opinion of the President, Secretary and author, 
it was deemed expedient. The proviso was added, at my request, as, 
from the imperfect manner in which the sketch had been prepared, I was 
unwilling to have it go forth in that form ; and, as nearly all the records 
and papers relating to the first seven years of the organization had been 
destroyed, in the office of the Secretary, (James Savage, Esq.,) by a fire 
in Court street in 1825, I felt apprehensive that to obtain the materials 
for a correct history would be difficult, if not impossible. 

I have, however, been more fortunate in this respect than I antici- 
pated ; and penetrated with a sense of duty to endeavor to correct some 
of the erroneous views and statements which have been made from time 
to time in the printed reports and other city documents, in reference to 
the Primary School Committee, — animated with an increasing interest 
during the investigation, and a desire to perpetuate the records and acts 
of an organization so eminently worthy of the respect of the community, 
I have continued to persevere in my efforts to comply with the vote of 
my late associates. 

The time required to obtain information and verify important facts, 
without encroaching too much on the avocations of business, and the 
absorbing cares of public office during the last three years, have combined 
to delay the final preparation of the work until the present time. 



The manuscript is now complete ; and if, in your opinion and that of 
the City Council, it is desirable that these Annals of the Primary School 
Committee should be printed, in conformity with the vote of the late 
Primary Board, I shall be most happy to tender it to the City Govern- 
ment as an humble contribution to the history of our Public School 
system, which, originating in our own city of Boston, has been instru- 
mental in extending the blessings of free education throughout our 
common country. 

With sentiments of respect, 

I remain yours truly, 

JOSEPH M. WIGHTMAN. 



CITY OF BOSTON. 



In Board of Aldeemen, August 29, 1859. 
The foregoing communication, from Joseph M. Wightmak, 
having been read to the Board by His Honor the Mayor, it was 
voted that five hundred copies of the Annals of the Boston Pri- 
mary Schools be printed. 
Attest : 

S. F. McCLEARY, City Cleek. 



In School ComiiTTEE, March 13, 1860. 
Ordered, — That the Secretary of this Board be, and he hereby 
is, authorized and requested to have printed, for the use of the 
School Committee, five hundred copies of the Annals of the 
Boston Primary School Committee, by Joseph M. Wightman. 

Ordered, — That the Secretary of this Board furnish to each 
member of the Board, and of the late Primary School Com- 
mittee, a copy of the above-mentioned Annals of the Primary 
School Committee. 

Attest : 

BARNARD CAPEN, Secretary. 



PREFACE. 



The object and motives of the compiler in the preparation of these 
" Annals," are generally set forth in the letter to His Honor the Mayor, 
tendering the manuscript to the City Government. 

A few words, however, appear to be proper, if not necessary, in rela- 
tion to the origin of the work, and some of the circumstances connected 
with it. 

The compiler was elected a member of the Grammar School Committee 
for 1847, at which time the agitation in regard to the organization and 
management of the Public Schools was at its height. Aware of his want 
of knowledge, it was his endeavor, during the four years he was honored 
with a seat at the Boaid, to obtain such information in relation to the 
operation of the school system as would justify the conservative course he 
desired to adopt in reference to the changes which were proposed. 

Surrounded with experienced and learned associates, and receiving, 
from them a degree of courtesy and attention which deserves the most 
grateful acknowledgments, it was from no feeling but that of an imperative 
sense of duty, that any difference of opinion existed between some of 
them and the compiler, as to the value and expediency of some of the 
important changes which were proposed to be made in the administration 
of the schools. 

Actuated by a sincere desire to avoid all rash changes in a system of 
education which had stood the test of time and experience, and having 
been frequently required to draw up the reports of sub-committees, on 
important questions, an investigation into the elementary history of our 
Public Schools became a necessary duty. 

The connection of the compiler with the Primary School Committee, at 
the same time, placed him in the position of a defender of that organiza- 
tion, against the various attacks to which it was subjected, from time to 
time, for several years previous to its dissolution. 



8 



Under these circumstances, was commenced the collection of those facts 
in relation to the history of the Primary Schools, which are herewith pre- 
sented. As a historical record for reference, the compiler has endeavored 
to give the documents and votes in the language of those by whom they 
were prepared, — particularly in those cases in which accurate information 
was desirable, for a correct understanding of the condition of the schools 
at particular times. 

Valuable aid and encouragement have been received from numerous 
friends in obtaining authentic information, and the free use of many 
original papers and rare printed documents, by means of which the early 
history of the Primary Schools is rendered comparatively complete. 

Since the fire in 1825, the records of the Board have been regularly 
and correctly kept, and are now in the possession of the Grammar School 
Committee. These, with the various printed reports and other documents 
on the city files, being accessible to any interested person, it has been 
deemed inexpedient to enlarge the present work by extended extracts 
from those sources, the main object of the compiler having been to 
preserve those papers upon important subjects, which are in manuscript, 
or if printed, copies of which are only to be found in the possession of 
private persons. In the selection of these papers a due regard has been 
had to the historical facts which they embodied ; and when they have 
been presented entire, it was because no digest, however carefully made, 
could do justice to the original. 

Those portions relating to the early history of the schools, have been 
submitted to Hon. James Savage, to whose kindness the compiler is under 
deep obligations ; and it is to him that he has presumed to dedicate this 
work, which, however imperfect it may be as a literary production, will at 
least possess the more important merit ^ a truthful record. 

Boston, September 27ih, 1859. 



ANNALS 



PRIMARY SCHOOLS 



INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 

In ^vriting the history of the Primary Schools, their 
connection as a branch of our school sj^stem will ren- 
der a brief historical sketch of the origin and progress 
of the Public Schools of Boston a proper and interest- 
ing introduction. 

The Public Schools date their origin almost as far 
back as the settlement of the town. So early as the 
" 13th of ye 2nd moneth (April), 1635," we find, among 
other proceedings of " a generall meeting upon pub- 
lique notice," that "Likewise it was then generally 
agreed upon yt our brother Philemon Purmont shall 
be intreated to become scholemaster for the teaching 
and nourtering of children wth us." A tract of land 
" thirtie acres " was allotted to him " att a generall 
meeting ye. 14th of ye 10th moneth, 1635, at Muddy 
; River," (now, it is supposed, a part of Brookline), and 
the grant was confirmed " att a meeting ye 8th of ye 
11th moneth, called January, 1637." 

Mr. Purmont, however, was not the only " schoole- 
master" residing in the town, as it appears, from the 



2 INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 

record, that " att a meeting ye 17th day of ye 2nd 
month (April), 1637, it is agreed yt Mr. Danyell 
Maude, schoolemaster, shall have a garden plott next 
unto Stephen Kinsley's house plott, upon the condition 
of building thereon, if neede bee." This " plott " was 
on the "Neck." Still as there is an incidental men- 
tion made, ten years later, of " The Schoolemaster," it 
may be supposed that Mr. Purmont was alone in the 
office supported by the town, and that Mr. Maude, if 
he exercised his profession at all, did it either in the 
neighborhood or on his own account. According to 
Snow's History of Boston, Maude lived next south of 
Mr. Cotton's, in Common Street, afterwards the man- 
sion of Lieut.-Governor Phillips. 

Several of the islands in the harbor of Boston hav- 
ing been granted to the town by the General Court 
of Massachusetts, we find it recorded on the " 10th 
day of ye 11th month, 1641." "It is ordered, that 
Deare Island shall be improoved for the maintanance 
of a Free Schoole for the Towne, & such other occasions 
as ye Townsmen for the time being shall think meet, 
the sayd Schoole being sufficiently Provided for." The 
island was soon after entrusted to the care of Capt. 
Edward Gibbon, "until the Towne doe lett the same." 
In 1644, it was let for three years, at the rent of £7 
per annum, for the use of the school ; and again, in 
1647, the former lease having expired, it was let for 
seven years at a rent of £14 per annum, ^'for the 
Schoole's use in provision and clothing." In the next 
year, 1648, this lease was extended to twenty years 
at the same rent. In 1649, Long and Spectacle 
Islands were assigned to the use of the school; and 



INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 3 

the Selectmen were directed to take order that they 
be leased for the use of the school, at a yearly rent 
of sixpence on every acre. 

This school seems to have been a favorite with the 
inhabitants from its commencement; and bequests 
were made for its use in the wills of several indi- 
viduals. William Phillips, in 1649, " agreed to give 
13s. 4d. per annum forever to the use of the Schoole, 
for the land that Christopher Stanley gave in his will 
to the Schoole's use." Five hundred acres of land in 
Braintree were leased at forty shillings per annum for 
the same use ; and aoout the same time other lands 
belonging to the town were leased for the same pur- 
pose. In 1654, "It is ordered, that the ten pounds 
left by legacy to ye schoole of Boston by Mis Hud- 
son, deceased, shall be lett to Capt. James Olliver, 
for 16s. per annum, so long as hee pleases to im- 
jDrove itt." The rents on " Deare Island, Long Island 
and Spectacle Island, due to ye use of ye schoole," 
were ordered to be collected, and the " renters " were 
required to appear yearly and pay their dues. Deer 
Island was in 1662, leased to Sir Thomas Temple, 
Knight and " Barronight," for 31 years, at a rent of 
^14 a year, "to be paid yearly, every first day of 
March, to the Towne Treasurer for the use of the 
Free Schoole." 

We do not learn from the records when Mr. Pur- 
mont ceased his labors here; but in 1650, we find 
the following record : — " It is also agreed on, that Mr. 
Woodmansey, ye Schoolemaster, shall have fiftye 
pounds p. ann. for his Teaching ye Schollers, & his pro- 
portion to be made up by ratte." Mr. Woodmansey, 



4 INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 

whose name appears to have been Eobert, is again 
named, in 1652, on occasion of a sale of land by the 
town, with reservation to the inhabitants of a right 
to " enlarge the Skoolehouse ; " and it appears that 
the house in which he lived was the property of the 
town, and situated near the school, with only one lot 
between, which belonged to the schoolhouse. In 1657, 
the rent of this lot was assigned to him. In 1656, 
" It is ordered yt ye Selectmen shal have liberty to 
lay outt a piece of ground outt of ye Towne's land, 
wch they give to ye building of a house for instruc- 
tion of ye youth of ye Towne." In the same year, 
we find an order respecting " building ye Schoolehouse 
chimney." At this time (1656), it appears that there 
was but one school supported by the town. 

In 1666, the town "agreed with Mr. Dannell Hinche- 
man for £40 per ann. to assist Mr. AVoodmansey in 
the Grammar Schoole, & teach Children to wright, the 
Yeare to begine the 4th of March, \^." Soon after 
this appointment, Mr. Jones was sent for by the Select- 
men, "for keeping a Schoole, & required to perform 
his promise to the Towne in the Winter, to remove 
himselfe & familye in the Springe, & forbiden to keep 
Schoole any longer." From this it would appear that 
he had opened a school on his own account, which 
may have interfered with the town school, and conse- 
quently was not allowed by the Selectmen. 

In 1667, from sickness or some other cause, Mr. 
"Woodmansey appears to have been unable to attend 
to his duties, and Mr. Benjamin Tompson was " made 
choice of by the Select Men for to officiate in the 
place of the Schoolemaster for one Yeare, Mr. Hall 



INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 5 

being appointed to agree, for tearmes, what to allow 
hime per annum." 

In December, 1669, it was " Ordered, Mr. Raynsford 
to give notice to Mrs. Woodmansey that the Towne 
occasions need the use of the Schoole house [probably 
schoolmaster's house], & to desire her to provide other- 
wise for her selfe." From this it would appear that 
Mr. Woodmansey died previously to December, 1669. 
In March, 1670, "upon the request of Mrs. Margaret 
Woodmansye, Widdowe, to provide her a house to live 
in, if she removeth from the Schoole house; it was 
granted to allow her eight pounds per ann. for that 
end, dureinge her Widdowhood." 

December 22, 1670, we find the first mention in the 
records of the famous " Master Cheever," who for thirty- 
eight years after this, exercised so important an in- 
fluence upon the education of the people of Boston. 
He died August 21, 1708, "venerable," says Gov. 
Hutchinson, " not merely for his great age, 94, but for 
having been the schoolmaster of most of the principal 
gentlemen in Boston, who were then upon the stage. 
He is not the only master," adds the governor, " who 
kept his lamp longer lighted, than otherwise it would 
have been, by a supply of oil from his scholars." Pre- 
vious to the death of Mr. Cheever, the increase of the 
town required more schools ; and in 1682, two new 
ones were established. Mr. Cheever was succeeded by 
Mr. Nathaniel Williams in 1710, and he in 1734 by the 
celebrated " Master Lovell." 

In March, 1710, five inspectors of schools were ap- 
pointed, but little is known of their object or duties. 

In 1741, the population of the town was 16,382 ; 



6 



INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 



and on the 23d of June, a committee appointed to 
examine the schools reported the number of pupils, and 
their distribution, as follows : 

At the South Writing School, ... 73 
« « Queen Street* « . . .73 
« « North Grammar « . . .230 
« '' South Latin " . . .94 

« « North " « . . .65 



635 



Showing a total of 535 scholars in all the public schools 
at that time. 

June 24th, 1758, the Selectmen having been ap- 
pointed a committee to visit the schools, reported that 
" they had attended to that service, accompanied by a 
number of distinguished gentlemen, and found in the 

South Grammar School, . 

" "Writing " 
Queen Street Writing School, 
North Grammar " 

" Writino; « 

Being 841 in all, and which were found in very good 
order." 

At the visitation of the committee, July 1, 1772, 
there were 823 scholars reported as present, which, for 
some reason, shows a less number than in 1758. 

In March, 1785, a new writing school was established 
at the south end of the town (Pleasant Street), over 
which Mr. Cheney was installed as master April 26. 
During the revolution the schools were much disturbed, 

* Now Court Street. 



. 115 scholars 


. 240 


a 


. 230 


(C 


. 36 


<( 


. 220 


a 



INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 7 

and the number of scholars decreased to such an extent 
that many years elapsed before they recovered from 
the effect. In May, 1785, the number reported in both 
the Latin Schools was only 64 ; in Queen Street School, 
150 ; North Writing School, 150 ; School on the Com- 
mon (Mason Street), 119 ; Mr. Cheney's, 81 ; making 
but 564 in all the schools. At this time a rule was 
adopted by the School Committee to admit no children 
to the Writing Schools under seven years of age. 

It appears from the records, that originally the 
schools were under the supervision of the Selectmen 
of the town, in whose care they continued until 1789. 
In September of that year, a committee of one from 
each ward was appointed, at a town meeting, to draft 
a new system for the organization and government of 
the schools. This committee made their report Oct. 16, 
in which they recommended that the number of schools 
should be seven, and that they be placed under the 
direction of a school committee, composed of the 
Selectmen, and one from each ward, to be chosen 
annually by the town. Up to this time there had been 
no provision made, in Boston, for the education of 
females at the public expense, and therefore all their 
instruction was derived from private schools. In view 
of this, the committee proposed, that in the new system 
the girls should be admitted to the Grammar Schools, 
and instructed in the same studies as the boys, but at 
different hours, and only from April to October in each 
year. This report was adopted in town meeting, and 
the first school committee was chosen October 20, 1789. 

From the "Hist. Collections," 1794, we learn that 
" a handsome two-story brick building was erected in 



8 ' INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 

1792 in Bennet Street, where the North Latin School 
formerly stood. In one apartment, Writing and Arith- 
metic is taught ; in another, Spelling, Reading, English 
Grammar, and Geography. In the centre of the Town, 
on the N. side of School Street [now Court Square], is 
a building with two handsome school-rooms, erected in 
1790, in which boys are instructed in Latin and Greek. 
Another is a new house, lately built of wood, and used 
in the same manner and for the same purposes as the 
North School [Bennet Street]. There are two wooden 
buildings in the South part of the Town for the same 
purpose. All the free schools are supported by the 
Town; and youth of both sexes are admitted at dif- 
ferent hours. In the month of July, annually, the 
Selectmen and gentlemen of science chosen by the 
Town as a School Committee, with other gentlemen, 
visit these schools and examine them. The visiters 
dine together at Faneuil Hall at the expense of the 
Town." 

The bequest of Dr. Franklin, for the purpose of pro- 
viding medals to be distributed to the most deserving 
scholars, became available in 1792 ; and in that year 
the inscription and device were agreed upon, and 
twenty-one medals ordered to be prepared for distribu- 
tion in the schools. They were first distributed to the 
pupils to whom they were awarded, in February, 1793, 
though they bore the date of 1792. 

In 1800, there were in the town, seven free schools, 
containing 900 scholars, of whom about 160 were taught 
Latin. There were besides a number of private schools, 
at which there were about 500 pupils. At this time 
the salary of a master was $666 66, with a gratuity or 



INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 9 

allowance of $200 in addition ; the salary of an usher 
was $333 33, with an allowance of $100. The town 
tax of this year was $61,489 25, of which the school 
expenses were $11,100 85. 

In the spring of 1804, a new school-house was built 
in Chardon Street ; and in 1806 the whole number of 
pupils in the schools was 1760, of which 1030 were 
boys and 730 were girls. From this time the number 
of scholars did not increase in so great a ratio, inasmuch 
as it appears that at the visits of the committee, in 
August, 1816, there were only eight schools and 2,000 
children, being an increase of only 340 for ten years. 
The great increase from 1800 to 1806 should, however, 
be attributed, in a degree, to the admission of the girls 
to the schools. 

In December, 1817, the bells of the schools were 
ordered to be rung at the hour of beginning, and tolled 
till the master be present. They were also to be tolled 
at the hour of dismission. The school hours for com- 
mencing in the morning were, from April to October, 
72 o'clock; and from October to April, 8^. At this 
period the schools were regarded with increased in- 
terest by the citizens ; the advantages of public schools 
as the means of education were self evident ,• and their 
extension had begun to receive considerable attention, 
for there were those who felt that, in some respects, our 
educational system was defective, since it rendered 
private schools a necessary auxiliary to those which were 
puhlic and free. To understand this, it will be proper 
to state that, by the laws of the Commonwealth, it was 
provided that, " No youth shall be sent to the Grammar 
Schools, unless they shall have learned in some other 
2 



10 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

school, or in some other way, to read the English lan- 
guage, by spelling the same." The laws likewise j^ro- 
vided for the establishment of preparatory schools, 
where grammar is not taught ; but to this time there 
were no public schools in Boston where children could 
be qualified for admission to the Grammar Schools. 
The age at which they were eligible was fixed at seven 
years, and but few were ever admitted under that age. 
It was consequently necessary for parents to send their 
children to private schools, where they could be taught 
the first rudiments of reading, before they could receive 
admission to the Grammar Schools. 

Having thus briefly and imperfectly sketched the 
historical incidents connected with the Boston Schools, 
previous to the establishment of the Primary Board, we 
will now proceed to our main subject, the history of 
that organization. 



ORIGIN OF THE PEIMARY SCHOOLS. 

In tracing the history of an organization, its origin 
is justly regarded as one of its most interesting fea- 
tures ; but after the lapse of years, when most of the 
active men by whom it was fostered and cherished 
into life, have passed away, and age made the record 
of the past dim and obscure on the minds of the 
survivors, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, 
to go behind the written record and trace with any 
degree of satisfaction the primary cause or impulse 



ORIGm OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 11 

from which its origin may be dated. The first impulse 
may have been given by a simple remark or an acci- 
dental occurrence, which, striking a chord in harmony 
with the views entertained by others in regard to the 
wants or interests of a community, is responded to in 
such a manner as to render it eventually beneficial 
and successful. In its progress and development, how- 
ever, it often becomes so modified and changed by 
various influences and circumstances, that the original 
idea can scarcely be traced or recognized among the 
numerous elements which, though blended together, 
have each been more or less instrumental in produc- 
ing the result. 

As all of these difficulties exist in the present case, 
it may be deemed unnecessary by some, and presump- 
tion by others, to attempt an analysis of this nature, 
or seek for the original germ with any hope of suc- 
cess. But though the germ may not be discovered, 
there are those who first watered and cherished it, 
and it is right that we should endeavor to give " honor 
to whom honor is due," and render the proper meed 
of justice to those worthy, philanthropic, and self-de- 
voted men through whose persevering exertions the 
Primary Schools were projected and established. 

From a careful investigation of all available evi- 
dence, it appears, that one of the most prominent 
impulses which resulted in the establishment of the 
Primary Schools of Boston, was undoubtedly derived 
from the introduction of Sunday Schools. These 
schools had been instituted in England by Eobert 
Kaikes, in 1781-82, and had spread with great rapid- 
ity, and been attended with eminent success through 



12 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

all parts of Great Britain. The original objects of 
these schools was to gather the poor, degraded and 
neglected children from the streets, who were left 
to grow up in ignorance and vice, without any salu- 
tary home influences or regard for the Sabbath, and 
by kindness and persuasion interest them sufficiently 
to draw them together on the Sabbath, and by teach- 
ing them to read, lay a foundation for imparting to 
them a knowledge of their moral and religious duties. 
In Great Britain, with no system of public education, 
the Sunday Schools were soon thronged with thousands 
of children whose social condition was such as to pre- 
clude them from obtaining the most simple elements 
of education, except by this means. Ignorant as they 
were, the idea of being taught to read gave a charm 
to the Sunday Schools, and a success that probably 
no efforts, based on religious or moral instruction 
.alone, would have accomplished. 

The first Sunday School in the United States was 
"instituted in the year 1791. Its object was to instruct, 
gratuitously, children to read and write, who were 
unable to attend school on other days. The teachers 
were paid a salary, and the design did not extend 
to the religious instruction of the scholars. In 1811 
the present plan was adopted in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, but it was not until about 1816, that Sunday 
Schools were successfully introduced into Boston. 
Previous to this time many of the most eminent of 
the clergy and members of the various religious 
societies were deeply impressed with the importance 
of Sunday Schools as a check to vice and pauperism, 
and engaged most earnestly in their establishment. 



ORIGIN OP THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 18 

As a means of promoting the object, a society was 
formed under the name of " The Society for the Moral 
and Kehgious Instruction of the Poor," and it was prob- 
ably under the influence and auspices of this society 
that the first Sunday Schools were gathered * 

* In corroboration of this, is the following letter from the Town files 
for 1818. Mr. Thurston was one of the earliest friends in the establishment 
of Primary Schools, and was as eminent for his high legal attainments as for 
his active and disinterested benevolence. 

" Boston, March 18, 1818. 
" Turner Phillips, Esq., Chairman of the Honorable Board of Selectmen : 

" Sir : — Since I called on you, I have been to Mr. Webb's school in Mason 
street, to know if it would be convenient to have the rooms occupied by the 
school under his care for a Sunday school ; he replied that the writing books, 
&c., are all locked up, and that no inconvenience would be sustained by the 
Sunday school, which he believed was productive of much good. Permit 
me, therefore, to request that you would lay our application for a second 
room in Mason street sdhool-house, if you think it necessary, having already 
obtained a general consent of it for the use of that school-house last May. 

*' Our objects in attending to Sunday schools, are, to reclaim the vicious, to 
instruct the ignorant, to secure the observance of the Sabbath, to induce the 
children to attend public worship, and to raise the standard of morals among 
the lower classes of society. We are encouraged in obtaining these, by the 
experience which other places have declared to result from Sunday schools, 
and upon the little good which we hope has been done by them in this town. 

" We believe in this way we strike at the foundation of the evils incidental 
to society, and with greater prospect of success than to reform the hardened 
oifenders, — and yet through the children, not unfrequently the parent is 
reclaimed. 

" I have thought this explanation of our motives and objects would not 
be unacceptable. Whether we shall succeed, time must determine. The 
society feel grateful for the accommodation of school-rooms already granted, 
and shall duly appreciate such further ones as the number of scholars in 
the vicinity seem in our view to require. These are, Mr. Webb's school- 
rooms in Mason street, and one of the rooms in the school-house in North 
School street. A compliance with our requests will greatly facilitate our 
efforts, and obhge 

"Respectfully yours, 

"^VILLIMI THUESTON, 

" In behalf of the Committee of Boston Society for the Moral and Religious 
Instruction of the Poor." 



14 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Althougli the teaching of reading was one of the 
principal characteristics of the Sunday Schools, it was 
not anticipated by its friends, that, in Boston, which 
from its first settlement had been preeminent for its 
free schools and other means of general education, 
this kind of instruction would be required to any 
considerable extent ; they were therefore surprised 
and disappointed, when, at the gathering of these 
schools, they became aware how large a projDortion 
of the children were unable to read, or even had 
any knowledge of the alphabet. The extent to which 
this ignorance prevailed appears in a report of the 
society, (just mentioned,) made in November, 1817, 
in which it is stated, "that of 336 children admitted 
into the Mason Street Sunday School, none of whom 
were under five years of age, not one quarter part 
could read words of one syllable, and most of them 
did not know their letters." A knowledge of this 
fact brought with it a conviction of the insufficiency 
of the education, which could be imparted by an 
attendance of the scholars but once a w^eek, and the 
great detriment, the giving of so much elementary 
instruction would be, to the religious element of their 
undertaking. This led them to regard the omission 
of the means, for the public education of children 
under seven years of age as a great evil, and a radi- 
cal defect in our otherwise exemplary system of 
education. 

Under these circumstances, it is reasonable, that 
the efforts and appeals emanating from those who 
regarded education as essential, but, in a degree sub- 
sidiary, to the religious instruction and moral eleva- 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 15 

tion of the poor, should be deeply imbued with a 
union of these principles ; and we are not surprised, 
that in the agitation which ensued upon the subject 
of Primary Schools, these elements, of an eleemosynary 
character, should bS prominently brought forward in 
some of the plans proposed. Of the views enter- 
tained by those who advocated this peculiar organiza- 
tion, the following "Plan," which was published in 
February, 1818, will furnish a good illustration: 

"I. Let schools be established for the instruction 
of all the children from four to seven years of age, 
at the town's expense. 

"II. Let the present system of Sunday Schools go 
fully into operation. 

"III. Let three discreet, judicious, prudent, indus- 
trious, pious men be appointed in each ward, whose 
duty it shall be — 

" 1st. To inquire into the state and circumstances of 
each poor family several times in the course of the 
year, and note them down, and at the same time 
encourage them to industry, cleanliness, and good 
morals; and by their advice and friendship, to assist 
them in contriving ways and means by which to gain 
a comfortable subsistence for themselves and children. 

" 2d, To persuade them to send their children to the 
Public and Sunday Schools, and to go to meeting or 
to church themselves with their children on the Sab- 
bath, and show them what will be the result of laud- 
able, useful, and pious practices like these. 

" 3d. To ascertain the number of the poor in each 
ward, male and female, where they live, and where 



16 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

they were born, and to what meeting, church or parish, 
if any, they belong, and report their names to the 
minister of the parish, &c., and request him to visit 
and show them the use and necessity of pubhc wor- 
ship, and the advantage it will be to them; and 

" 4th. As fast as they discover an inclination in any 
one to attend public worship, and having ascertained 
the name of the minister under whose preaching he 
or 8he inclines to sit, it shall be their duty, by the 
permission of the church and parish over which he 
presides as pastor, to furnish him or her with a seat, 
and direct each where to find it. 

" 5th. That it be recommended to the Board of Over- 
seers that no money be given to, or expended by them, 
arising or growing out of the public funds, grants of 
the town, private donations, or public charities, upon 
any poor person out of the Alms House, except to 
such as shall be pointed out and recommended by this 
committee as suitable persons for charity. 

"6th. It shall be the duty of this committee, also, 
to take up all vagrants and street beggars, and deliver 
them to the Overseers of the Poor, to be committed 
to the Work House or Alms House, as the case may be. 

" 7th. It is recommended that the above committee 
of thirty-six gentlemen shall form a Board, called the 
Board of Primary Schools, for the purpose of putting 
into operation the above plan, except so much of it as 
relates to Sunday Schools." 

These views were probably entertained by many of 
the most earnest friends of Primary Schools, and par- 
ticularly by those who were actively engaged in the 
religious and philanthropic associations of the day. 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 17 

It is, therefore, to this cause we may attribute the idea, 
which has prevailed to some extent, that when the 
Primary Schools were estabhshed by the town, the 
number and quahfications of the committee, and the 
manner of its organization, were based upon this union 
of a rehgious and secular education. 

That this is an error, is evident from the fact, that 
when, in the course of events, the subject of Primary 
Schools was formally presented for consideration at the 
Town-meetings, the idea of combining Sunday Schools 
and church attendance with our system of Public 
Schools, does not appear in the petitions for the schools, — 
the reports of the committees, — nor in the plan subse- 
quently adopted by the town. 

It is true, that at the beginning, and through the 
whole career of the Primary Board as an organization, 
we find the spirit of moral care and Christian benevo- 
lence which Avas originally breathed around it, con- 
tinually exhibiting its benign influence in the action of 
the Board, and in the self-devotion of the committee. 

It is with pride, therefore, that we acknowledge this 
salutary influence ; and we regret that it is not in our 
power to do justice to all those revered and eloquent 
divines who stood foremost in the ranks as firm advo- 
cates and tried friends of this cause, while they con- 
tributed largely to the infusion of this spirit into it. 
Of these, many have passed away without our knowl- 
edge of their participation ; but we gladly record the. 
names of Baldwin, Channing, Dean, Winchell, Freeman, 
Sharp, D wight and Ware, as prominent among those 
which should be registered with grateful remembrance 
as pioneers in this extension of popular education. 



18 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

But with all proper regard to the influence we have 
been describing, it is manifest, that the ultimate success 
of the agitation for Primary Schools is due, in no less 
degree, to the judicious perseverance of those, who, 
taking a different view of the subject, felt the necessity, 
and advocated the establishment of these schools on 
the broad ground of public expediency ; that without 
them, our boasted system of public instruction was de- 
fective, incomplete, and inefficient. Of those who 
urged the importance of Primary Schools on these 
grounds, none were more indefatigable in their efforts 
than Elisha Ticknor and .James Savage. These gentle- 
men had long been united in forwarding various jDro- 
jects for the amelioration and improvement of the 
condition of the poor. It was mainly through their 
exertions that the " Provident Institution for Savings " 
had been put into operation, and its success had en- 
couraged them to further eJBTorts in the same direction. 
Mr. Ticknor had been a teacher in the Grammar 
Schools, and had seen and felt the deficiency in the 
system of instruction, by which a large class of the 
population were prevented from deriving any advantage 
from the Public Schools. .It is true that by the laws of 
1790, the schools were apparently free to all ; but the 
conditions were such, as to limit the advantages to those 
who had the ability to qualify their children for admis- 
sion. The law required, that the pupil should be seven 
years of age, and able to read in plain English lessons ; 
but there were many parents who were incompetent to 
impart even this elementary instruction themselves, 
and whose means w^ere too limited to pay, even the 
small compensation required, to send their children to 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 19 

to the Dames' Schools. Others were too iUiterate to 
appreciate the advantages of education, sufficient!}^, to 
apply a part of their earnings to the instruction of 
their children; consequently, as the preliminary in- 
struction was in all cases a ])rivate charge, except to 
those who were admitted to the Charity Schools, it was 
plain, that without some public provision, a considerable 
portion of the children were, and must be, debarred 
from entering the schools, while the constantly increas- 
ino; foreio'n immiorration was swellino- the number of 
this class of children to an alarming extent. '• It can- 
not be doubted," says Mr. Savage, in one of his letters, 
" that the true construction of the laws required the 
opening of schools, at the public expense, for children 
under the age of seven years, inasmuch as the laws 
passed by the Legislature in 1790 provided for the 
establishment of preparatory schools." 

But the law in relation to this cla^ss of schools was 
not acted upon by the authorities in Boston, although 
it appears to have been by those in several other towns 
in the Commonwealth. That this neglect was not in 
accordance with the sentiment of the citizens generally, 
is evident from the prompt response, in favor of these 
schools, which was given by them whenever the subject 
was brought forward at the town meetings. 

By the continued agitation and discussions on the 
subject, the inhabitants became more and more in- 
terested, although no definite action appears to have 
taken place in relation to it until 1817. On the 2C)th 
of May in that year, a petition, signed by 160 inhabi- 
tants, mostly residing at the north part of the town, 
was read at a town meetino; in Faneuil Hall. The 



20 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

last paragraph in this petition, which was dated May 1, 
and addressed to the Selectmen, is as follows : — " It 
appears to lis, also, important that Schools should be 
provided at the expense of the Town for the instruc- 
tion of children under the age of seven years. There- 
fore we request that a meeting of the inhabitants of 
the town may be called, to take the above subject into 
consideration, and to adopt such measures thereon as 
the importance of the subject demands, and they may 
think most for the general good." 

A town meeting was called, and the subject referred 
by the town to the School Committee, with the addition 
of one person from each of the twelve wards, to be ap- 
pointed by the Selectmen. The following is from the 
records of the Selectmen, May 29, 1817 :— " The Town 
having, at the late meeting, directed the Selectmen to 
appoint a committee, to consist of one person from each 
of the Wards, on the subject of schools, the following 
names were now selected from the lists offered by the 
petitioners, and from others nominated by the Board: — 

Ward 1. Henry J. Oliver. Ward 2. Eedford Webster. 



3. 


Jacob Hall. . 


4. 


James W. Burditt. 


5. 


JoNA. P. Hall. 


6. 


Isaac Wn^sLOw. 


7. 


Gideon Snow. 


8. 


John Dorr. 


9. 


Samuel May. 


10. 


David W. Child. 


11. 


Isaac Stevens. 


12. 


Joseph Field." 



These committees met on the 18th of June, and the 
members of the several Ward committees were requested 
to visit every family in the Wards, and ascertain the 
number of children who did not attend any school ; 
also the number of Women's or " Dames' Schools," and 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 21 

thei^umber of their pupils ; they were also requested, 
at the same time, to ascertain the number of deaf and 
dumb and blind persons in each Ward. In considera- 
tion of the labor involved, a number of gentlemen were 
appointed to assist the Ward committees in their duties. 
On the 17th of July the returns were handed in to the 
School Committee, who appointed a sub-committee, 
consistins; of Charles Bulfinch, Chairman of the Select- 
men, Peter 0. Thacher and Henry J. Oliver, to arrange 
the returns, and report upon them. On the 30th of 
October, this sub-committee presented their report, 
adverse to the petition, which was read, accepted by 
the School Committee, and ordered to be printed for 
the information of the inhabitants. 

The views which were then entertained by the 
authorities upon the subject of schools, and the inter- 
esting statement in relation to the town, at that time, 
joined to the fact, that but very few copies of this 
report now remain, will be a sufiicient reason for in- 
serting a copy of the entire document in this place : — 

PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Boston, November 3, 1817. 

At a meeting of the Inhabitants of this town on 26th May 
last, a petition was presented from a number of the inhabi- 
tants for additional Schools, and was referred to the School 
Committee, which consists of the Selectmen and twelve other 
citizens, to which was added one person from each ward, 
thirty-three in all. The body, so formed, appointed commit- 
tees for each of the wards, to, ascertain by inquiry the actual 
state of education in the town. The reports of the several 
ward committees were referred to a sub-committee, consist- 
ing of Charles Bulfinch and P. 0. Thachee, Esquires, and 



22 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Mr. Henry J. Oliver : The following report was presented 
by them, and will, we think, be regarded as a valuable his- 
torical document, and read with pleasure by all wbo take an 
interest in the welfare of the rising generation. 

REPORT. 

The Sub-Committee, to whom were referred the returns 
of the Committees of the several Wards, and who were in- 
structed to consider the expediency and necessity of estab- 
lishing within the town, at the public expense, primary schools 
for children under the age of seven years, and also of increas- 
ing the number of the~ public reading and writing schools f©r 
children above that age ; having examined the several returns, 
and collected all information upon the subject, ask leave to 
report — 

The duty of the town to provide the means of instruction 
for all the children is both a civil and religious obligation 
upon the citizens ; but it is a reasonable duty, and has its 
limits. If, on inquiry, it is found that the existing schools 
are not sufficient to accommodate the public wants, their num- 
ber ought to be encreased. But, although the sub-committee 
does not apprehend any unwillingness in the towns to provide 
liberally for the public instruction ; yet, in deciding upon the 
obligation to increase the number of schools, it cannot be 
improper to have reference to the ability of the town to make 
further appropriations for their support. 

The Sub-Committee find that the Latin Grammar Pupiis. 

school consists of . . . . . . 147 

The North public schools of 309 boys and 140 girls, 449 

The West schools of 339 boys and 234 girls, . . 573 

' The Centre schools of 240 boys and 36 girls, . 326 

The South schools of 370 boys and 283 girls, . 653 

The school at South Boston of 100 boys and girls, . 100 

The African school of 30 boys and 20 girls, . . 50 

The school at Alms House of 44 boys and 23 girls, 67 

2,365 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 23 

These scliools, containing in all 2,365 pupils of both sexes, 
are maintained at the public expense, and are, excepting a 
part of those at the Alms House, for children above the age 
of seven years. 

The several Ward Committees were instructed to visit 
each house, to ascertain the name of every child from the age 
of four to fourteen years, who from any cause failed to attend 
any school; and to obtain full and accurate information of 
the state of education within their respective limits. The 
Committees appear to have performed their task with fidelity ; 
and the result of their returns in a digested form, is added to 
this report, and is offered as part of the same. 
• It appears that there are in the town one hundred and 
sixty-two private schools of various descriptions, in which 
4,132 children attend, who are between the ages of four and 
fourteen years. These scholars are supported at the expense 
of the parents, excepting eight,'^ which are maintained by the 
charity of individuals, organizing themselves into different 
religious societies in the town, and superintended by associ- 
ations of young ladies, in the respective churches, who devote 
their personal attention to advance the progress of the 
children in manners and learning. The whole expense of 
these private schools amounts annually to forty-nine thou- 
sand one hundred and fifty-four dollars, furnishing employment 
and support to a very useful and respectable class of citizens 
of both sexes. Of the above sums, the expense of the 
earliest or primary schools for children between the ages of 
four and seven years, is eighteen thousand nine hundred and 
eleven dollars. It is found that two hundred and eighty- 
three children, between the ages of four and seven years, do 
not attend any school : Considering the population of the 
town, which now amounts to about forty thousand inhabitants, 



* These Charity Schools were for girls only, and their organization and 
means of support may be understood from the " Final and Seventh Annual 
Report of the School of Industry No. I.," which is printed entire in the Ap- 
pendix, from probably the only copy now preserved, and for which the Editor 
is indebted to Rowland Ellis, Esq. 



24 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

together with the influx of foreigners and strangers, who are 
ignorant of our institutions, or who have not learned to value 
them, this is deemed to be a very small number. But the 
Overseers of the Poor are found not to be inattentive to the 
wants of the community in this respect. They distribute 
annually in their respective Wards, a sum, which upon an 
average amounts to five hundred and fifty dollars,- to enable 
poor children of this class to attend the primary schools, 
which are kept in various parts of the town. 

From the returns of the Ward Committees it appears, that 
two hundred and forty-three children above the age of seven 
years do not, either from the inattention of their parents, 
from indifference to the subject, or from inability, make any 
use of the means of education, public or private, which are 
afforded by the town. Of this number it may be presumed 
that two-thirds are females, who might be easily accommo- 
dated in the public Schools. Nor does there appear to be 
any difficulty in disposing of the boys, who are about eighty 
in number, in the existing public schools, especially as the 
females attend there from the month of April to October 
only, and the boys are then divided between them in suc- 
cession, which gives ample room for even a much larger 
number than are usually found to attend. ' 

Considering the importance of education to the present 
and future well-being of the individual, it is to be deeply 
lamented, that any child should be suffered to grow up in 
ignorance. Next to giving lessons of vice, the neglect of 
parents to attend to the education of their children is the 
greatest injury which they can inflict upon their offspring. In 
a country where schools are provided at the public expense, 
it is a debt which parents owe to the community, and an 
indispensable part of their office, to send their children 
regularly to School. Our laws have not provided penalties 
for parents, who neglect this duty. Perhaps it is best that 
its performance should be left to the influence of feeling 
and conscience, and to the dread which is felt of that in- 
dignation which will inevitably arise in the mind of a child, 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 25 

who, having arrived at the age of manhood, finds that his 
education has been neglected by those, to whom he is un- 
happily indebted for his existence. But in every society, 
individuals will be found; who are wholly regardless of their 
own improvement and happiness, and who equally disregard 
the best moral and religious interests of their children. Let 
the system of public instruction be ever so complete and 
extensive, some will always be found to neglect its 
advantages. 

In no country is the system of free Schools established 
on more liberal principles than in this Commonwealth. The 
fathers of New-England well knew, that ignorance is the 
parent of superstition and vice, and that it is. equally hostile 
to civil and religious freedom. They incorporated into our 
civil constitutions the principle, that provision should be 
made in each town, at the public expense, for instructing 
the children in the elements of knowledge. In the public 
Schools in this town, the children are taught the principles 
of the English language, and likewise the elements of Writ- 
ing, Arithmetic and Geography. They are permitted to con- 
tinue there from the age of seven to fourteen years, and in 
that time they become qualified to engage in mercantile and 
mechanical professions, are disciplined in the principles of 
moral and religious truth, and are formed to make valuable 
members of the community. The only qualification for ad- 
mission to the public Schools is, that the child should know 
his letters and be able to combine syllables, and the instances 
are rare indeed where children have been refused admission 
from the want of this qualification. The instructors of the 
Grammar Schools are gentlemen of liberal education. All 
the Schools are under the care and inspection of a large com^ 
mittee, consisting of twenty-one citizens,* to whom are dele- 
gated all the powers of the town for the support and 
encouragement of public instruction. 

For children under the age of seven years, it is -true, no 

* The School Committee was composed of nine Selectmen, ex-officio, and 
fine member elected from each Ward. 
4 



26 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

schools are maintained at the public expense. But experience 
has proved in times past, and it has been demonstrated by the 
present inquiry to the satisfaction of the sub-committee, that 
this class of children with us is not neglected. Perhaps as 
large proportion of them enjoy the advantages of instruction 
as would avail themselves of it if schools were maintained in 
sufficient number by the public treasury. The system of small 
private schools for pupils of this description, supported by 
the parents, operates upon them as a tax, which, however, is 
not very unequal or burdensome. They send their children to 
such schools as are convenient, and at such rate of expense 
as they can afford, and the tax is paid cheerfully, because it is 
for an object which carries with it the reward both of feeling 
and duty. If public schools were established for this class, 
they must, to be of general utility, be very numerous, which 
would create a very great expense to the town. If they 
should be few in number, they would not be attended, for it 
would be inconvenient and dangerous to send small children 
to schools distant from their homes, and to allow them to 
assemble together in multitudes. Few parents would wish to 
send their children to a school of this description. Most 
parents naturally take a strong interest in the first develop- 
ment of the tender faculties of their infant children, and are 
willing to devote more attention to the business of education, 
where a small weekly stipend is paid by them for this object, 
than where the whole expense is defrayed by the public 
treasury. The sub-committee believe that most parents have 
some leisure, and that with us few are unequal to the task of 
teaching the elements of letters. It ought never to be for- 
gotten that the office of instruction belongs to parents, and 
that to the schoolmaster is delegated a portion only of the 
parental character and rights. In the retirement of domestic 
life, parents have opportunities to impart instruction, and to 
gain an influence over their children which the pu])lic teacher 
does not possess. 

It is not to be expected that free schools should be fur- 
nished with so many instructors, and be conducted on so 
liberal principles as to embrace the circle of a polite and 



ORIGIN OP THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 27 

finished education. They have reference to a limited degree 
of improvement, and from their public character there must 
arise some disadvantages which are not felt in private 
schools, under tutors to whom is assigned a small limited 
number of pupils. But, considering the great number and 
flourishing state of the public and private schools in this 
town, the universal attention which is paid by its citizens to 
their support and encouragement, the very small proportion of 
children who do not avail themselves of these institutions, 
together with the heavy tax which is already assessed for the 
support of the public education ; the sub-committee report as 
the result of their inquiries, that the establishment at the 
public expense of primary schools for children under the age 
of seven years, is not in their opinion expedient, and that an 
increase of the number of the reading and writing schools is 
not required by any evident public necessity. 

By order of the Sub-Committee, 

CHARLES BULFINCH, Chairman. 



Boston, Oct. 30, 1817. — At a meeting of the School Com- 
mittee, in conjunction with the committee from the wards of 
the town, the above report having been read and fully con- 
sidered, — Voted, that the same be accepted, and that it be 
printed for general information. 

WM. WELLS, Sec. to S. C. 



The following is one of the tables referred to in the above 
report. In another, the committee exhibited particularly the 
numbers in each school, with the various prices of tuition, 
which, from its length, it has been thought advisable to 
omit : — 



28 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 



Result of the Returxs made from the several Wards by 
THE Committee ox the subject of Schools. 





No. of Children 

who RO to no 

School. 


No of 
Private 
Schools. 


No. of 
Private Pupils. 


Annual 
Expense. 


Charity 

Free 
Schools 


■a 

53 




? 
o 

< 


1 


"a 

i 


o 


5 


$ cents. 


o 

.a 

03 


■p. 

a 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 


57 

52 

2G 

9 

8 

20 

7 

6 

13 

6 

23 

56 


46 
53 
28 
14 

8 
23 

4 

5 
20 

3 
23 
16 


2 

1 

1 
1 

1 
1 
3 
5 
1 
3 


19 

12 

16 

1 

10 

13 

12 

5 

6 

10 

14 

17 


232 

128 

161 

70 

162 

100 

100 

15 

89 

125 

112 

185 


275 
169 
259 
24 
231 
190 
232 
119 
133 
212 
164 
280 


5,638 00 
2,846 00 
3,175 00 
1,249 00 
7,346 00 
2,879 00 
6,425 50 
2,285 00 
2,300 00 
8,162 50 
2,020 00 
4,828 50 


1 

1 

1 
1 

4 


60 

32 

35 

65 

173 




283 


243 


19 135 


1,479 


2,288 


49,154 50 


8 


365 



Number of Pupils— Boys, 1,479; Girls, 2,288; Charity Scholars, 365; 
total, 4132. 

Annual Expense of Primary Schools for Children under Seven 
Years of Age. 



Wardl 2,962 

2 1,870 

3 2,775 

4 225 

5 1,710 

6 1,695 

7 787 



Wards 105 

9 1,820 

10 602 

11 3,020 

12 2,340 



Amount 



18,911* 



This report was printed and distributed, but was not 
submitted to the action of the citizens at a town meet- 
ing, as the School Committee apparently regarded the 
vote of the town as placing the whole matter in their 
hands. Elaborate and carefully prepared as it was, it 
was not satisfactory to the petitioners, but was opposed 
in the newspapers by Mr. James Savage and others 

* This amount was paid by the parents of the pupils, in the Dames' and 
other private schools. 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 29 

with eloquence and effect. From one of these articles, 
in the Daily Advertiser of April 21, 1818, over the signa- 
ture of " Many,"* we make the following extracts : — The 
author commences by laying clown this proposition — 
" All should be taught to read ; the poor and the rich 
should have an equal chance to understand the nature 
and principles of our Eepublican government ; " and 
adds, " Many parents in this town send their children 
to private schools kept by women, while those who are 
unable to pay for their tuition, are obliged to leave 
them to traverse the streets, or shut them up at home. 
Of this class, there are hundreds among us already 
growing up to all kinds of iniquity. In the report of 
the School Committee of the 3d of November last, we 
are told that the number of children between the ages 
of four and fourteen is 526, ^ who go to no schooV. What 
are those children doing ? Who has charge of them ? 
Where do they live ? Why are they not at school ? 
The Committee have not informed us. Have they not 
a right to a good bringing up, and to a common school 
education ? and have they not a right to a common 
share of the friendship of the community ? If their 
parents negbct to provide them a school, is it not the 
duty of the town to do it ? and if the town takes no 
interest in their welfare, is it not the duty of the Legis- 
lature to enact laws for the purpose of saving these 
dependents, these sufferers ? " 

" All children have an equal right to the schools, we 
know, on the following conditions, and on no other, viz. : 
1st. The child must be seven years old. 2d. He must 
be able to read in the Bible sufficiently well to keep 

* Written by Mr. Savaga 



30 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

his place in a class. 3d. He cannot be admitted after 
the age of fourteen, however well he can read, or how- 
ever deficient he may be in writing or arithmetic. Take, 
then, the case of a parent, (and there are hundreds in 
town,) whose circumstances are such as to prevent him 
from qualifying his children for enjoying the benefits 
of our Free Schools, under and after the age of seven. 
Can it be said that the doors of our schools are open to 
these children ? "We say that they are not ; yet we are 
told, " they are open,/r<?e^ open to their reception, but 
these children are as much deprived of the benefits of 
our schools as they would be of running, after their 
legs were broken, or their eyes were put out." 

The School Committee having decided unfavorably 
to the wishes of the petitioners, another petition for 
the same object was presented to the town at a town 
meeting in Faneuil Hall, May 25, 1818. This petition, 
the' most important from its success, was drawn up by 
Elisha Ticknor and James Savage, as we are informed 
by the latter; and as the original paper, now on the 
town files, is in the hand-writing of Mr. Ticknor, with 
several interlineations by Mr. Savage, there is no doubt 
of their action, or that the signatures were principally 
obtained by their efforts. The list contains the names 
of so many of the eminent and influential men of that 
time that we cannot refrain from recording the entire 
list, as a memento, alike honorable to them and to the 
cause. 

The document is addressed, 

To the Selectmen of the Town of Boston : 

Gentlemen: — The undersigned, inhabitants of Boston, 
impressed with the deepest sense of the value of our insti- 
tutions and laws, for the education of children in public 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMAKY SCHOOLS. 3l 

town schools, respectfully represent, that an extension of the 
benefits of such establishments, appears in their view highly- 
desirable and necessary, that inquiry has satisfied them, that 
many hundred children in this town grow up to manhood, 
unable to read or write ; that the admission to the present 
public schools of those over seven years of age, requiring 
a previous acquaintance with easy lessons, and many parents, 
being themselves incompetent to give such lessons, and not 
able to obtain such instruction for their children at private 
schools, it seems expedient that such previous education 
should be freely provided for by the town, no less than the 
instruction at our established schools ; that such schools 
might be taught by females, and rooms provided in several 
parts of the town, at a small expense, or the cheap Lancas- 
trian system may be adopted; that the duty of providing 
such schools and instructors need not necessarily be added 
to the labors of our present School Committee, but might be 
performed by a Committee of three in each ward, to be 
named by the Overseers of the Poor, annually, which Com- 
mittee might also, much alleviate the labors of the regular 
officers. Wherefore, they request that a meeting of the in- 
habitants of the town may be called to take the above men- 
tioned subjects into consideration, and thereon to adopt such 
measures as the importance of the matter deserves, and the 
public good requires. 

(Judge) Thomas Dawes, James Savage, Thomas L. Winthrop, 

(Rev.) Thos. Baldwin, Wm.' Thurston, Henry Gray, 

James Freeman, Barzilla Homes, ^ EHsha Ticknor, 

"\Vm. E. Channing, Jere. Gore, Wm. Brown, 

Paul Dean, John D. Williams, Robert Fennelly, 

Daniel Sharp, Daniel AVeld, Geo. Darracott, 

SerenoE. D wight, Elijah Williams, Josiah Vinton, Jr., 

Henry Ware, Elisha Preston, Moses Grant, 

Jas. M. Winchell, Jesse ]\Iayo, Thomas Wallcut, 

Isaac Yose, Pliny Cutler, Henry J. Oliver, 

Josiah Stedman, Samuel Bradlee, N. S. Snelling, 

Benj. West, Uriah Cotting, John C. Brown, 

Daniel Ingalls, Daniel Messenger, Wm. Dall, 

John Knapp, Samuel Coverl}", Augustus Peabody, *♦ 



32 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 



Samuel T. Armstrong, 
Oliver Fisher, 
Thomas Brewer, 
Lemuel Hayward, 
Joseph Head, 
Charles Barnard, 
Isaac Stevens, 
Ferdinand E. White, 
Thaddeus Robinson, 
Elijah Davenport, 
Jno. H. Bacon, 
Eben. Chadwick, 
Henry Williams, 
Ephraim Lock, 
James Clap, 
Timothy Merritt, 
Robert H. Thayer, 
David Andrews, 
C. D. Coolidge, 
B. P Tilden, . 
Thos. Thompson, 
Thomas Wigglesworth, 
Benj. Pollard, 
Benj. Austin, 
Benj. Shurtleff, 
Nathan Hales, 
William Cochran, 
Samuel May, 
Jechonias Thayer, 
Samuel Snelling, 
Charles Guild, 
Jno. F. Loring, 
Ignatius Sargent, 
William Sturgis, 
Benj. Howard, 
Jeffrey Richardson, 
James IMeans, 
Geo. H. Hodges, 
J. W. C. Baxter, 
Jno. Borland, 
R. P. Tolman, 
Calvin Haven, 
Josiah Salisbury, 
Charks Hood, 
Wm. Ladd, 
Joshua Child, 
Elias Haskell, 
Francis Stanton, 



David Dudley, 
Edward Gray, 
James Mann, 
Charles Hayward, 
William Ropes, 
Ebenezer Parker, 
AVm. Worthington, 
Lewis Leland, 
Edmund Munro, 
Isaac McLellan, 
John Tyler, 
E. Brigham, 
Isaac Parker, 
John E. Tyler, 
Robert G. Shaw, - 
John Baxter, 
Lemuel Packard, Jr., 
John Peters, 
John French, 
Geo. Hayward, 
Sam'l Clarke, 
Wm. S. Shaw, 
Aa. Hill, 
Josiah Bradlee, 
Nathan Davis, 
John Bellows, 
Edward Reynolds, 
William Mackay, 
Joseph Callender, 
Samuel Gore, 
J. Putnam, 
Thomas J. Prince, 
James Dennie, 
Benj. Rich, 
Jno. M. Marston, 
Henry D. Gray, 
Wm. Masters, 
George Pratt, 
Samuel Bates, 
Samuel Blake, 
Ellsha G. Scudder, 
Asa Whitney, 
Thomas H. Ward, 
Thomas West, 
Nathan Rice, 
James Allen, 
Abel Adams, 
Horatio H. Fiske, 



John Chandler, 
John Osborn, 
Josiah Knapp, 
J. W. Hayward, 
Israel IMunson, 
Charles Thacher, 
John Bryant, 
William Eager, 
Isaac Hall, 
Lemuel Crackbon, 
J. and S. Jenney, 
Wm. Tucker, 
H. Blanchard, 
Calvin Bailey, 
Henry Hovey, 
R. Elwell, 
Pen-in May, 
Enoch Clap, 
Peter Coffin, 
D. D. Rogers, 
Jno. Baker, 
Joshua Huntington 
N. Joy, 
Geo. Homer, 
John Brazer, 
Wm. Foster, Jr., 
J. Prince, 
Bedford Webster, 
Thomas B. Wales, 
Tristram Barnard, 
Thomas Curtis, 
Nehemiah Parsons, 
Thomas Cordis, 
Joseph Moseley, 
John F. Priest, 
Edward D. Peters, 
Philip Curtis, 
Prince Ilawes, 
Samuel L. Abbot, 
John Tappan, 
Howland Cowing, Jr., 
A. P. Cleaveland, 
Joseph H. Dow, 
Hemy Chapman, 
Isaac Jenney, 
Samuel Billings, - 
John Dodd, 
Charles A. Dennet. 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 33 

This petition was referred by the town to a Special 
Committee, consisting of Messrs. Bedford Webster, 
Tho:mas L. Winthrop, Elisha Ticknor, James Prince, 
Samuel May, John D. Williams, James Savage, Ben- 
jamin West, and Thomas Jackson. On the 3d of 
June this committee made their report as follows: 

The Committee appointed at the Town meeting on the 
25th of May, to consider the subject of the petition of a 
number of the inhabitants, for the establishment by the town 
of schools for children under seven years of age, having 
attentively considered the same, ask leave respectfully to 
report. 

That, in their opinion, the opening of such schools for 
children under the age of seven years, is highly expedient 
and necessary; that several hundred children of that age 
do not attend any school, because the Charity Schools are, 
in most instances, provided only for female children, being 
under the inspection of ladies, their founders,' and the pri- 
vate schools are so expensive that many parents find it diffi- 
cult to defray that expense ; that the examination of the 
circumstances of the several parts of the town in this respect, 
made last July, presented a return by which it is found that 
two hundred and eighty-three, between the ages of four and 
seven years, did not attend any school; but from inquiry 
of some of the gentlemen who made the returns, the Com- 
mittee are satisfied that many children of that age were 
omitted, their parents or guardians being unwilling to 
acknowledge that they were sent to no school. That the 
Committee, with greater confidence, recommend the adop- 
tion of such a course, because most of the towns in this 
Commonwealth provide schools for children four years 
old equally with others, and particularly is this adhered to 
in the large towns of Salem, Newburyport, and Portland; 
that the best mode of providing such schools, seems to them 

5 



34 ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

to be by the guidance and direction of three gentlemen from 
each ward, of sufficient activity, firmness, discretion and 
energy, to be nominated by the School Committee. 

The Committee also submitted tlie following votes 
as expressive of the action to be taken by the town : 

Voted, That the School Committee be instructed, in the 
month of June, annually, to nominate and appoint three gen- 
tlemen in each Ward, whose duty collectively shall be to 
provide instruction for children between four and seven 
years of age, and apportion the expenses among the several 
schools. 

Voted, That $5,000 be appropriated out of the Town 
treasury for the purpose in the foregoing vote expressed, 
to be paid by the Treasurer on warrants drawn on him in 
the same manner as warrants are for the expenses of the 
other town schools. 

This report was presented June 3d, and postponed 
to an adjourned meeting held on the 11th of the 
same month, at which time its acceptance was opposed 
by Hon. Harrison G. Otis, Judge Peter 0. Thacher, and 
several other gentlemen, and was supported with elo- 
quent earnestness by Messrs. Elisha Ticknor, Lewis 
Tappan, James Savage and Thomas B. AY ait; the lat- 
ter was a practical printer, and had never before spoken 
in public, but on this occasion he expressed his views 
with such clearness and effect as to render the elo- 
quent opposition of Mr. Otis unavailing, and the rej)ort 
and votes were adopted almost unanimously. By 
another vote, " $5,000 was added to the estimate of 
the expenses of the ensuing year to carry the same 
into effect." 



ORIGIN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 35 

The whole measure was thus triumphantly carried 
by the people, in opposition to the Selectmen and 
School Committee, who, with one or two exceptions, 
were entirely hostile to the project; for some reason, 
they were most singularly sensitive in regard to it, 
and it was believed to have been from their solicita- 
tion that Mr. Otis was induced to use his j^ersuasive 
eloquence in opposition to it. To them the result 
was as mortifying as it was unexpected, inasmuch, as 
they had confidently anticipated a different effect, 
from the poj)ularity of Mr. Otis, and the consideration 
of the views involved in their report of the 30th of 
October, and were entirely unprepared for so marked 
and signal a defeat. They, however, gracefully sub- 
mitted to the circumstances, and in conformity with 
the foregoing instructions, a meeting of the School 
Committee was held on the IGth of June, and the 
following gentlemen were chosen as the first Primary 
School Committee to carry into execution the vote 
of the town : 

Ward 1. Rev. Henry Ware, N. G. Snelling, Robert 
Fennelly. 

Ward 2. Redford Webster, Lewis Leland, Samuel. 
Highborn. 

Ward 3. James W. Burditt, Josiah Marshall, Captain 
Samuel House. 

Ward 4. Rev. J. M. Winchell, Benj. T. Wells, Nathan 
Webb. 

Ward 5. Rev. Thomas Baldwin, Saiviuel Gore, Dr. 
Benj. Shurtleff. 

Ward 6. Rev. Paul Dean, William Thurston, Rev. 
Daniel Sharp. 



36 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Ward 7. Hon. Benj. Austin, Samuel Coverly, Dea. 
Moses Grant. 

Ward 8. John Dorr, Shubael Bell, David W. Child. 

Ward 9. Samuel May, James Savage, William Brown. 

Ward 10. Thomas L. Winthrop, Henry Chapman, Gard- 
ner L. Chandler. 

Ward 11. Elisha Ticknor, Benj. Bich, John Bellows. 

Ward 12. William Dall, Benj. West, Thomas B. Wait. 

1818. 

The gentlemen thus apj)ointed met on the 22d of 
June, 1818, and organized themselves by the choice of 
Thomas L. Winthrop, Esq., as Chairman, and James 
Savage, Esq., as Secretary. 

At a meeting of the Committee, on Monday, July 
20th, 1818, it was— 

Voted, That the Secretary cause all the votes and doingg 
of this Board, relative to the establishment of Primary Schools, 
so far as concern the duties of the several Ward Committees, 
to be printed and transmitted to each of them for their gov- 
ernment. 

In obedience to this vote, the Secretary transmitted 
the following to the several committees : — 

Voted, That each School shall be opened and directed by 
the Committee of the Ward in which it is placed; consulting, 
if it stand near another Ward, the Committee of that Ward. 
To the same shall belong the duty of procuring a suitable 
room, of engaging competent Mistresses, and controlling all 
matters relating to the establishment. They shall visit, and 
inquire into the state of the school or schools under their 
charge at least once a month, and oftener if convenient. They 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 37 

shall make a statement, of all important matters relating 
thereto, at each quarterly meeting of this Board, to be holden 
on the third Tuesday of September, December, March and 
June. 

It shall be the duty of the Mistress, besides the usual 
business of teaching, to keep account of the absence or negli- 
gence of the children, and make weekly reports to the Ward 
Committee, whose duty, thereupon, shall be to visit the parents 
and endeavor to secure regular attendance. She shall be 
also required to pay particular regard to the neatness and 
cleanliness of the children. 

It has also been Voted, that for the purpose of general 
provision for instruction of children under our authority, 
between the ages of four and seven years, including the ex- 
penses of rent, fuel and all other charges for the year ending 
the thirtieth day of June next, the portion of this Committee 
nominated for Ward No. 1 be allowed to expend the sum of 
four hundred and eighty dollars, and no more; the portion 
nominated for Ward No. 2, the sum of seven hundred and 
twenty dollars, and no more; the portion nominated for 
Ward No. 3, the sum of seven hundred and twenty dollars, 
and no more ; the portion nominated for Ward No. 4, the 
sum of two hundred and forty dollars, and no more ; the 
portion nominated for Ward No. 5, the sum of two hundred 
and forty dollars, and no more ; the portion nominated for 
Wards Nos. 6 and 7, the sum of seven hundred and twenty 
dollars, and no more; the portion nominated for Wards 
Nos. 8 and 9, the sum of four hundred and eighty dollars, 
and no more ; the portion nominated for Wards Nos. 
10 and 11, the sum of four hundred and eighty dollars, and no 
more; the portion nominated for Ward No. 12, the sum of 
seven hundred and twenty dollars, and no more — at the dis- 
cretion of the several portions of this Committee thus divided 
respectively ; provided, however, that the portions of the 
Committeea for any two or more Wards or divisions may 



38 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

unite the whole or any part of the funds hereby to them 
assigned for expenditure, at their discretion, in establishing 
one or more schools on the Lancasterian plan, or in the usual 
mode, in any parts of the Wards or divisions they represent, 
for children of the age above specified, and that all the several 
sub-committees hereby constituted, make report of their pro- 
vision iu every respect to this Board at their next meeting. 

Under these instructions, the several Ward Com- 
mittees entered upon their duties, each of them electing 
a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary ; and the records 
of Wards Nos. 6 and 7 are presented as an example of 
the manner in which these duties were performed : — 

" Boston, August 9,1818. — Miss Maria Bates com- 
menced teaching School No. 1, in Ward No. 6, situated 
in Leverett Street, at the rate of $170 per ann. for her 
services." 

" August 10. — Hired of Mr. A. F. Lane, a room for 
the above school at $1 per week." 

" Boston, August 10,1818. — Miss Sarah Rice com- 
menced School No. 2, in Ward No. 6, situated in Cam- 
bridge Street, at $240 per annum, she finding fuel and 
school room." 

' "Boston, August 10, 1818. — Miss Sally Jewett com- 
menced teaching School No. 3, in Ward Nos. 6 & 7, at 
the rate of $170 per ann. Room hired of Mr. Taylor 
at $1 per week. Said school is situated in South Rus- 
sell Street." 

" Committee for the District composed of Wards Nos. 6 and 7, 
for 1818-19, commencing in June annually. 

For Ward No. 6. For Ward No. 7. 

Rev. Paul Dean,C^a?>'« & Treas. Mr. Samuel Coverly, Sec'y. 
Rev. Daniel Sharp. Hon. Benj. Austin. 

Dea. Moses Grant. William Thurston, Esq." 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 39 

The Committee of Ward No. 6, for the establishmnent and 
superintendence of the Primary Public Schools, beg leave to 
Report — 

That they have established two Schools in their "Ward, and 
one in conjunction with the Committee of War.d No. 7. 

The School No. 1, in Ward No. 6, is situated in Leverett 
Street, on the cast side ; is taught by Miss Bates ; tickets of 
admission have been given to fifty-five scholars; and about 
forty-five attend daily. 

School No. 2, in Ward No. 6, is situated in Cambridge 
Street, on the north side ; is taught by Miss Rice ; tickets 
for sixty children have been issued, and forty-five to fifty 
children attend daily. 

School No. 3, for Wards 6 and 7, is situated in South Rus- 
sell Street ; is taught by Miss Jewett. This school is more 
immediately under the management of the Committee of Ward 
No. 7, who will make a report on the subject. 

These Schools were put in operation on the first of August ; 

and your Committee have pleasure in communicating the 

satisfaction they feel in perceiving the decent and cleanly 

appearance of the children generally, in their good conduct, in 

the good order and subordination introduced into the Schools, 

and the evident improvement already made by the children. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

Paul Dean, Chairman. 
Boston, Sept. 15, 1818. 

1819. 

On the 31st of May, 1819, the Primary School Board 
presented their first report to the Town, of which the 
following is a copy : — 



40 ANNALS OF THE PRIiLA.RY SCHOOLS. 

AT a legal meeting of the Inhabi- 
tants of the Town of Boston, held at 
Faneuil Hall, on Monday, the 31st day 
of May, A. D, 1819. 

The following KEPOET was read, 
accepted, ordered to be printed, and 
distributed for the information of the 
InhabitantSo Attest, 

THOMAS CLARK, Town Clerk. 
EEPORT. 

Pursuant to the vote of the Town on the 11th day of June 
last, the School Committee soon after nominated and ap- 
pointed three gentlemen in each ward " to provide instruction 
for children between four and seven years of age, and appor- 
tion the expenses among the several schools." Of these gen- 
tlemen all but two accepted, and have served. The Board 
was organized on the 23d day of June, by choosing Thomas 
L. Winthrop, Esquire, Chairman, and James Savage, Esquire, 
Secretary. 

On the 2d day of July, the Board resolved that the Com- 
mittee of each Ward " ascertain, by personal inquiry, the 
number of children between the ages of four and seven; 
state who do, and who do not, attend any school, as also 
those, whose parents are desirous of availing themselves of 
this right; and report the names and place of residence." 
This was a very arduous duty ; and the result of the inquiry 
was highly interesting to the Board. The number between 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 41 

four and seven years old; exclusive of about half of Ward 
No. 7, from "wliich the Committee made no return, amounted 
to two thousand eight hundred and forty-three. Of these, 
though five hundred and thirty-two only did not attend any 
school, thirteen hundred and thirty were desirous of instruc- 
tion at the new schools. The number who attended no 
school was nearly double that of the return made the pre- 
ceding year, but not larger than was expected to be found. 
A comparison of the result, in each year, from all the Wards, 
will assist us in judging of their correctness. 

Wards. 1817. 1818. 



No. 1 


57 


46 


2 


52 


86 


3 


26 


45 


4 


9 


14 


5 


8 


20 


6 


20 


37 


7 


7 


34 


8 


6 


29 


9 


13 


72 


10 


6 


2 


11 


23 


46 


12 


56 


101 



Total, 283 532 

To provide instruction for that number, the grant of money 
by the town was very liberal, and was indeed considered by 
the favorers of the experiment adequate to furnish schooling 
for seven or eight hundred children. But, when we ascer- 
tained that above thirteen hundred would demand the care 
of the Board, it became a matter of great difficulty to divide 
the sum granted in such a way as to approach nearest to a 
fulfilment of the vote of the town, with which a perfect 



42 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

compliance seemed utterly impracticable. We could not 
satisfactorily arrange this difficulty before the 20th of July. 

As the pupils were of such tender age, they could not be 
required to go far from home ; and schools must, therefore, 
be opened in sections of the Wards. To ensure health and 
improvement, their number in each school should be small; 
and to such an instructor, as alone ought to be employed, 
the compensation could hardly fall short of two hundred 
dollars. Rent, fuel, benches and other incidental charges 
might have reasonably been expected to exceed fifty dollars 
for each. But the Board were resolved to open twenty 
schools, and we were of necessity stinted to that amount. 
It was generally agreed by us, that the children in one school 
should not exceed forty-five, and be confined, if practicable, to 
forty. The money was didded by vote among the several 
Committees from the Wards, and schools were opened exclu- 
sively for such free scholars as the Committees received in 
every Ward but two. These two Wards were unitedly al- 
lowed from our fund enough to maintain two schools, or one- 
tenth of the whole ; but it seemed expedient to the Committee 
of that united district to agree with mistresses, having already 
established schools to receive from the Committee an addition 
of pupils at a stated rate for each. Five teachers have been 
by them employed in this manner. The rate of ten cents 
per week, with allowance of two dollars for winter's fuel, for 
each child, making seven dollars and twenty cents a year, is 
now found to be much higher than that which the instruction 
in other Wards demanded, where the expense of each pupil 
has fallen short of five dollars. 

Most of the schools were opened in August, and all by the 
first week of September, and all have continued without 
interruption. 

The calculations, even of such citizens as were most solici- 
tous for the establishment of these schools, have all estimated 
too low the number of children for whom we find it necessary 
to provide instruction. Though a large portion, probably 



ANNALS OF THE PRIINIARY SCHOOLS. 43 

half of our people would prefer to pay teachers of their owa 
private selection for instructing their children of such an age ; 
and though the never-tiring benevolence of many has provided 
schools for several hundred others, yet, in every instance, the 
schools opened by the Board have been filled beyond the limit 
we desired to prescribe. We should, however, observe, that 
several of the instructors, having daughters of age to afford 
assistance to their mothers, the Committees have been satis- 
fied with permitting sixty, and in one instance seventy, in 
another eighty pupils in one school. In only two of those 
eighteen schools provided solely for the free instruction has 
the number been smaller than fifty ; and on the second week 
of March, when our instructors returned all under their 
tuition, the amount was eleven hundred and eighteen. Large 
as this number will appear, the Board are satisfied, that a 
considerable addition should the current year be provided 
for ; and from computation carefully made we conceive thirty- 
two schools for such children will be needed. At two hun- 
dred and fifty dollars each, a grant of eight thousand dollars 
would be requisite. 

Two considerations, among several others more apparent, 
powerfully operate to produce, in the minds of the gentlemen 
at the Board the year past, a conviction of the importance 
and necessity of this system of free schools for young chil- 
dren, which they wish to submit to the consideration of their 
fellow-citizens. The first is, that our schools have been con- 
stantly pressed to admit a number of children in every part 
of the town above seven years old, who, having been unable to 
acquire a little acquaintance with English reading, or even the 
letters of our alphabet, are excluded from the Public Schools. 
This grievance we could not remedy ; but if the new schools 
for children of younger age be continued, the evil will, in a 
great measure, soon be removed. The second is, that very 
many children, whose parents are able in summer to afford 
them schooling at nine-pence or a shilling a week, are deprived 
in winter, when fire money is asked by the instructors, 



44 ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 

which the parents cannot easily pay, of all teaching, and so 
lose, at that season, all their former acquisition in letters. 
Three private schools in one Ward, where the mistresses had 
twelve scholars each, have been, by this defect, reduced one 
to nine, and the other two to six pupils each. But the chil- 
dren for whom we have been required to provide instruction 
have attended with remarkable punctuality, not less in winter 
than in summer. 

The result of our experiment has certainly been encour- 
aging, and we confidently state that the improvement in all 
our schools has been far superior to our expectations. We 
found many parents, on our first inquiry, indifferent about 
sending their children to these schools, though they regularly 
attended no other. Perhaps mistaking the establishment for a 
charitable one, their pride revolted from acknowledging that 
they needed assistance; yet, since the operation has pro- 
ceeded, they have almost invariably desired admission for 
them. Of the children received, one half in some parts 
of the town, and one-third in general, were ignorant of their 
letters, of whom many can now read in the New Testament, 
and several from each school are prepared for admission at 
the town grammar schools, who must have been, we are con- 
fident, otherwise rejected. In most of our schools, the girls 
have been taught knitting or sewing as well as reading. The 
several Committees are, by a regulation of the Board, required 
once a month, at least, to visit the schools under their par- 
ticular care ; and a return of the state of each is demanded at 
our quarterly meetings. 

All which is submitted. 

ELISHA TICKNOR. 

BENJAMIN AUSTIN. 

THOMAS B. WAIT. 

NATHAN WEBB. 

THOMAS BALDWIN. 

HENRY WARE. 

JAMES SAYAGE. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 45 

This is the first Annual Report of the first Committee 
of the Primary Schools, and it is exceedingly interest- 
ing, from the amount of general information it pre- 
sents, and as developing the organization and arrange- 
ment of the duties of the Board, which were so wisely 
and carefully ordered, and have proved so well adapted 
to the purpose, that no fundamental changes were after- 
wards deemed advisable or necessary. 

The proceedings of the Committee having been thus 
approved by the town, in conformity with the recom- 
mendation in their Report, an appropriation of $8,000 
was voted for the ex|)enses of the second year, 1819— 
20 ; and in June the School Committee appointed the 
Primary Committee for the year. Messrs. Webster, 
Wells, Burditt, Marshall, Gore, Dorr, Bell, Child and 
Rich having resigned, the following gentlemen were 
appointed in their place : Thomas Fracker, Dr. Horace 
Bean, James Davis, Thomas J. Bordman, Dr. Geo. C. 
Shattuck, Peter Mackintosh, Jr., Dr. Samuel Clarke, 
Edward Phillips, G. L. Chandler, and Pliny Cutler. At 
the first meeting, after their appointment, the Board 
reelected Mr. Winthrop as Chairman, and Mr. Savage as 
Secretary ; and, encouraged by the confidence of their 
townsmen, proceeded with increased energy to perfect 
the arrangements for successfully carrying on their 
work. 

At a quarterly meeting, December 21, 1819, a Sub- 
Committee was appointed " to consider of all subjects 
proper for the consideration of the Board ; " and in the 
reports of this Committee, which was presented and 
accepted March 21, 1820, a simple code of Rules and 
Regulations for the Committee and the Schools was 



46 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

adopted. The last section of this report particularly 

claims our attention as originating the Executive or 

Standing Committee, and defining its relation to the 

Board. 

REPORT. 

The Sub-Committee, appointed at the stated quarterly 
meeting of the Primary School Committee, on the 21st of 
December last, to consider of all subjects proper for the 
consideration of this Board, have attended to that service, 
and beg leave to report the following as the result of their 
inquiry, viz. : 

1st. That each of the school-mistresses shall stand on 
equal terms in point of compensation. 

2d. That all the schools shall be as nearly equal in point 
of numbers as may be, it being desirable that none have more 
than Jifty, nor less than forty , as constant attendants. 

3d. That the pupils in each of the schools shall be 
arranged into four classes, viz. : Those who read in the Tes- 
tament shall be in the First Class; those in easy reading, 
in the Second Class; those who spell in two or more syl- 
lables, in the Third Class ; those learning their letters and 
monosyllables, in the Fourth Class; and that the books 
be the same in every school, for each pupil hereafter entering. 

4th. That no pupil shall be received into the Primary 
Schools without a ticket of admittance from one of the Ward 
or District Committees. 

5th. That returns from each of the schools shall be made 
quarterly by the instructors to the District or Ward Commit- 
tees, stating the ages and the number of male and female 
pupils, and the progress of each. 

6th. That each Ward or District Committee shall meet, 
at least ten days previous to the quarterly meeting, to pre- 
pare from the returns of the several school-mistresses a 
report, to be made forthwith to the Standing Committee, 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 47 

with said returns, with such observations as they shall please 
to make. 

7th. That a Standing Committee of seven be appointed 
by this Board, whose duty it shall be to meet on the second 
Tuesday of each month, to consider of every subject relating 
to the Primary Schools, and the same to visit semi-annually, 
and report at every quarterly meeting, recommending any 
improvements necessary to obtain the general objects of this 
Board. 

Signed, Elisha Ticknor, Per Order. 

Although this is, doubtless, the origin of the Stand- 
ing Committee, as such, yet the same duties had been 
previously performed by a Sub-Committee, correspond- 
ing in all respects with the Standing Committee now 
proposed, as is evident, from the first Annual Report 
made to the town in behalf of the Board. 

The report ha"^dng been adopted, the following gen- 
tlemen were elected as the Standing Committee by 
the Board : Elisha Ticknor, Rev. Paul Dean, Rev. Henry 
Ware, Deacon Moses Grant, James Savage, Thomas B. 
Wait, and Peter Mackintosh, Jr. 

1820. 

On the 25th of March, 1820, the first meeting of 
the Standing Committee, was held at the office of 
James Savage, Esq., at which all the members were 
present. After organizing themselves, by the choice 
of Elisha Ticknor, Esq., as Chairman, and P. Mackin- 
tosh, Jr., as Secretary, the committee j)roceeded to 
make arrangements for their "first semi-annual visita- 
tion;" and we deem the details of that meeting so 



48 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

interesting as the basis of all subsequent semi-annual 
examinations, that we cannot forbear introducing the 
entire record on this occasion, which is as follows: 

It being the duty of this Committee to prepare a report 
relative to the Primary Schools, to be communicated at the 
adjom-ned meeting of the Primary School Committee ; which 
report, when approbated, to be laid before the town for gen- 
eral information, it was judged proper that our first semi- 
annual visitation should be made as soon as may be, for the 
purpose of furnishing materials for said report, founded on 
an actual survey of each school by the Standing Committee. 
Therefore, on motion, made and seconded, it was 

Voted, That the first semi-annual visitation of the schools 
in the several wards be made on Tuesday and Wednesday 
next, being the 28th and 29th instant, in conjunction with the 
respective committees in the wards. Also, 

Voted, That this Committee be divided into seveji Sub-Com- 
mittees for that purpose, as follows : 

Mr. Wait, for Ward No. 1, 3 Schools, and Ward No. 4, 2 
Schools. 

Mr. Ticknor, for Ward No. 2, 4 Schools, and Ward No. 7, 
1 School. 

Mr. Grant, for Ward No. 3, 4 Schools, and Ward No. 8, 1 
School. 

Mr. Savage, for Ward No. 6, 3 Schools, and Ward No. 5, 2 
Schools. 

Mr. Mackintosh, for Ward No. 12, 3 Schools, one of which 
is at South Boston. 

Mr. Dean, for Ward No. 12, 2 Schools, and Ward No. 9, 3 
Schools. 

Mr. Ware, for Wards No. 10 and 11, 5 Schools. Total, 33 
Schools. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 49 

In order to produce something of uniformity in our inqui- 
ries, it was Voted, That each Sub-Committee should ascertain 
as follows : 

1st. The whole number of scholars present ai the visita- 
tion, designating the number of boys and girls. 

2d. The number of children of seven years and upwards, 
designating the boys and girls. 

3d. The number who are now qualified as candidates for 
the Grammar Schools. 

4th. What number have been discharged and sent to the 
Grammar Schools, and there admitted during the past year. 

.5th. If any, and what number are admitted, as private 
scholars, from whom tuition money is received. 

6th. The general state and condition of each school ; stat- 
ing in the report to this Committee whether it be good, bad, 
or indifferent ; naming the ward, the number of the school, 
the name of the teacher, and her qualifications for her duty. 

The Committee then adjourned to April 10th, at which 
meeting " reports from personal inspection of all the Primary 
Schools in town were made ; and it was Voted, That the same 
be committed to Mr. Savage to prepare a condensed report 
thereon." 

On the 25th of April, the ^rst report of the Standing 
Committee was presented to the Board, and being 
approved by them, was read at the Town meeting in 
June. The brevity and comprehensiveness of the 
report, and the confidence with which still further 
claims were made upon the town, renders this report 
not less interesting than the first. 

From it we learn that the whole number of schools 
in March, 1820, was 34, and " that from these nurseries 
171 children had been advanced to the English Gram- 
mar Schools, and 177 more were found qualified for 

7 



50 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

admission therein," . . " making a total of 348 pupils, 
prepared for the English Grammar Schools " during the 
year. The whole number belonging to the Primary 
Schools was 1,666, of whom 1,409 were present at the 
examinations. The conclusion of the report is, " that, 
in the opinion of the Committee, the grant of $8,000 
by the Town, made last year, for the purpose of ena- 
bling this Board to provide instruction for children 
between four and seven years of age, has been well 
appropriated, and that the good effects of its expendi- 
ture will long be experienced ; but, inasmuch as that 
grant was made on a calculation of the necessity of 
having only thirty-two schools, for a number of pupils 
less than this Board has found itself obliged to pro- 
vide for in ihirtif-foiir schools, the inhabitants of the 
Town will perceive the propriety, if the system is 
thought worthy to be persevered in, of making for 
the present year a grant larger than that of the last 
year, by $500, to support the increased establishment." 
This report is " signed, Elisha Ticknor, Chainnan." 

In addition to this report, prepared for the town 
meeting, Mr. Savage also ^^I'spared a report of the 
returns made by the several members of the Stand- 
ing Committee, which was presented to the Board 
at the quarterly meeting, April 25th. 

At the town meeting, in June, the report was read, 
accepted, and the desired appropriation of $8,500 
voted for the year 1820-21. In the annual appoint- 
ment of the Primary School Committee, the following 
changes were made : 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 51 

George Darracott, vice Robert Fennelly. 

Isaac Harris, " N. G. Snelling. 

Thomas Wells, '' ■ Rev. J. M. Wincbell. 

Reuben Richards, Jr., " Thos. S. Borclman. 

Samuel J. Armstrong, ^^ Dr. Benj. Sliurtleff. 

Andrew Green, " Rev. Daniel Sharp. 

Rev. Sereno E. Dwight, "^ Hon. Benj. Austin. 

Isaac Mansfield, " Edward Phillijis, 

Samuel Norwood, " Henry Chapman. 

Lewis Tappan, ^ Rev. Dr. T. Baldwin. 

Thomas Jackson, " John Bellows. 

Samuel Dorr, " G. L. Chandler. 

William Jackson, " Benjamin West. 

At the regular meeting of the Board, Mr. Winthrop 
was reelected Chairman ; and as Mr. Savage declined, 
Mr. Peter Mackintosh, Jr., was elected Secretary, and 
Mr. William Brown, Treasurer, of the Board. The 
Standing Committee w^as composed of the same gen- 
tlemen as the previous year, all the members having 
been reelected. At a meeting of this Committee, July 
20, 1820, Elisha Ticknor was chosen Chairman, and 
MosES Grant, Secretary. It was also " Voted, That one 
dollar per annum be appropriated to each school for 
the purchase of reward books, and tickets or medals. 

" Voted, That Mr. Cutler's and Grant's bills for small 
reward books and tickets, and all similar bills now due, 
be paid by the Treasurer. 

" Voted, That Mr. Mackintosh prepare the Rules and 
Regulations for the government of the Committee." 

The Committee then adjourned to July 23d, at which 
meeting the first "Rules and Regulations of the Pri- 
mai'y Board" were read and accepted. They were 



52 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

subsequently adopted by the Board July 27th, and 
printed in a pamphlet form. It appears from these 
" Rules " and the records, that at that time and previous 
to June, 1824, the officers of the Primary Board were 
a Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer; the duties of 
the latter officer were defined in "Section lY. The 
Treasurer shall keep a fair and accurate account of the 
moneyed concerns of the Board. He is authorized to 
receive, from the Town Treasurer, all the moneys 
granted for the support of the Primary Schools ; and 
pay the Instructors of the Schools quarterly, their bills 
being first approved by the Committee of the Ward or 
District to which they belong. His accounts shall be 
audited or inspected, whenever the Board may appoint 
a Committee for that j)urpose. At the close of the 
year he shall make a transcript, or an abstract of his 
accounts as audited, to be laid before the Board." 

The books to be used in the Primary Schools were 
selected by the Standing Committee, and were adopted 
by the Board at the same time with the " Rules." They 
were, "the Testament, Child's Companion, Kelley's Child 
Instructor, Webster's Only Sure Guide, Pickard's Juve- 
nile Spelling Book, and Child's First Book English 
Reader." 

Notwithstanding the gratifying success which had 
attended the schools, and the large number of children 
which were brought within their salutary influence, 
the benevolent minds of the Committee were soon 
attracted to the importance of extending the benefits 
of education to that class of children who were too old 
to be admitted to the Primary, and were not qualified 
to enter the Grammar Schools. In pursuance of this 



ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 53 

object, at a meeting of the Board on the 16th of July, 
1819, it was " Voted, That a Committee of one from 
each Ward be appointed to ascertain the number of 
children in this town over seven years of age, who are 
not qualified for admission into the Public Schools, and 
whose j)arents are not able to pay the expense of in- 
struction ; also of those children who are idlers, truants, 
and such as have no visible or known employment, and 
who do not habitually attend any school, and report at 
the next quarterly meeting; and also the form of a 
memorial to be presented from this body to the Board 
of Selectmen of this Town, requesting the adoption of 
such measures as they may deem proper to supply the 
want of Schools to those who are unqualified to enter 
the Public Schools." 

The labor involved in this vote required considerable 
time, and the Committee were unable to complete their 
report and present it, until the quarterly meeting of 
the Board on Tuesday, April 25th, 1820. It was then 
read and accepted, as follows : 

REPORT. 

Your Committee, deeming it highly important, would state 
to their fellow-citizens, that in the discharge of their duty the 
past year, they have had many applications for the admission 
to the Primary Schools, of children over seven years of age, 
who were not qualified to enter the town schools, and conse- 
quently, could not be legally benefited either by the Primary 
or Public Schools. 

This induced us to make a careful inquiry to ascertain 
the number of children in this town between seven and four- 
teen years of age, who are in this condition, and to our great 
surprise and grief, we have found the number to exceed three 



54 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

hundred, and "we entertain no doubt that the real number is 
much greater. Some of these are truants ; some of them 
employed in street-begging, and all of them ignorant; and 
if nothing is done for them, they seem destined forever to 
remain ignorant, and vicious, and '^retched. 

These children, be it remembered, were born in as free and 
as happy a land as the earth affords, and have, as we believe, 
undeniable claims on the public munificence for such an edu- 
cation as will enable them to know, defend, and enjoy the 
civil, religious, and social privileges of which they are born 
the distinguished heirs ; and not only so, but if they are per- 
mitted to remain in their ignorance, insubordination, and 
vicious habits, they will not only go quickly to destruction 
tliemselves, but by their pernicious example and influence, 
they will draw many others after them to the same deplorable 
ruin. 

A lively interest in the welfare of these unhappy youth, 
(which we believe is also felt by a humane and virtuous pub- 
lic,) has led us to consider whether something could not be 
done for their relief and the public good, both in a moral and 
social view; and the result of our reflections has been, that 
one or more schools might be opened at a trifling expense to 
the town, and instructed by persons competent to teach and 
govern them ; and that nearly all these children, whose names, 
ages, and places of residence we are already in possession of, 
may be induced to attend, and thus escape the evils to which 
they are now exposed. 

This evil, which has been accumulating for several years, 
from a want of Primary Schools, will be remedied in a few 
years, at farthest, in our opinion, after which the Primary and 
Public Schools will be fully adequate. 

Elisha Ticknor, 

Paul Dean, 

Moses Grant, J> Svb- Committee. 

Wm. Thurston, | 

Benj. Shurtleff, J 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 55 

This report was drawn up by Rev. Paul Dean, and 
appended to the Annual Report, made to the Town by 
Mr. Savage at the Town meeting in June. The report 
and petition were referred by the Town to the School 
Committee, and by them committed to a Sub-Com- 
mittee. Bat, as no report was made by them, the Pri- 
mary Board brought the subject again to the notice 
of the School Committee, who then recommended to 
the Town an appropriation of $1,000, to establish a 
School for Mutual Instruction, for the accommodation 
of such children. This was voted at a Town meeting, 
held July 2d, and the School Committee were author- 
ized to establish the school ; the matter was then 
referred by them to the Primary Board, and the school 
was organized in the basement room of the Boylston 
School House on Fort Hill. 

This school was the first of that class of schools which 
subsequently became much extended under the name 
of " Intermediate Schools." 

As exemplifying the careful supervision of the 
schools at this time, and the manner in which they 
were conducted, we present the report, of Mr. Elisha 
TiCKNOR to the Standing Committee, of his Semi-Annual 
visitation to four schools in Ward No. 2, and one school 
in Ward No. 7, in March, 1820 : 

Gentlemen : According to your directions, I have visited 
and examined, in company with Messrs. Fracker, Hichborn, 
and Leland, Committee of Ward No. 2, four Primary Schools, 
on the 28th instant. 



56 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 







6 § 
p. 




Girls. 

Enlered 
Gram'r 
Scliool 
last y'r. 


"a 

5" 




si 


School No. 1, kept by Miss Turner, 


58 


56 


22 


34 




7 




8 


8 


School No. 2, kept by Miss Ripley, 


47 


44 


25 


19 




16 




6 


5 


School No. 3, kept by Miss Marsh, 


43 


41 


23 


18 




6 




3 


2 


School No. 4, kept by Miss Tracker, 


68 


36 


12 


24 




1 






2 








221 


177 


82 


95 1 


30 




17 


17 


I also visited and examined in company 
■with Mr. Coverly, Committee of Ward 
No. 7, School No. 1, kept by Miss Jewett. 


68 


56 


35 


21 




8 




9 


12 



In visiting these schools, we proceeded to examine in the 
first place School No. 2, kept by Miss Eipley. Her pupils 
were neat and clean, respectful in their manners, and orderly 
in their behavior. They passed an excellent examination in 
reading and spelling, and repeating what they had learned by 
heart. The young lady, also, set an example worthy of her 
pupils' notice, and appeared to possess those qualifications 
both for governing and instructing, which are so desirable for 
one in her situation to possess. Her children, she observed, 
attended school punctually, and, with very few exceptions, 
were moral and civil in their manners, and generally clean 
and neat as we then saw them. Fifteen read in the Testa- 
ment. The books she taught were Kelley's Spelling Book 
and the Testament. These she considered as sufficient to 
qualify her pupils for the Grammar School. She had no pri- 
vate scholars. She taught no knitting or sewing j and I was 
sorry for it, because I believe a little manual exercise will 
induce children to learn more, and better, and faster, and will 
give a spirit and animation to whatever they undertake to 
perform. This school is evidently well taught, and may be 
denominated a good one. 

We then passed on to School No. 3, kept by Miss Marsh, suc- 
cessor to her mother, lately deceased. It was neat and clean, 
and there were evident marks of good government and proper 
subordination. It certainly appeared well; the pupils read 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 67 

and spelt excellently, and were desirous to show, by repeat- 
ing long lessons from Scripture, that they had been no idlers 
in school, but had been orderly and diligent. The Instruc- 
tress was mild and dignified in her manners, and her scholars 
exhibited marks of respect and attention which quite satis- 
fied your Committee. Fourteen read in the Testament. She 
observed that she had no cause to complain of any immoral 
language, or expressions falling from the lips of her pupils, 
and they were punctual at school. The books taught were 
Kelley's Spelling Book and the Testament, which she thought, 
also, were suflScient to qualify her pupils for the Grammar 
School. In this school knitting and sewing were taught, 
although none was exhibited. 

We then examined School No. 4, kept by Miss Fracker. 
This school is a new one, got up but a few months ago, and 
is not in that state of improvement we could wish ; yet there 
appears to be no fault attached to the instructress. She is 
mild in her manners, and evidently possessed of a good mind; 
but whether she has energy enough in her government, and 
system enough in her mode of instruction, must hereafter be 
determined by the Ward Committee. This school is, how- 
ever, far from being properly organized, and what course the 
Committee can take to compel or induce upwards of thirty 
children, irregular in their habits, to attend school punctually, 
as do the others, is beyond my experience to determine ; but 
if any method can be devised, it will be a great acquisition, 
and a point gained in favor of the Primary School system. 
I think it may be done ; but it will depend upon the exertion 
and perseverance of the Ward Committee. A complaint of 
.vulgar language was brought against one, and him we called 
up, and trust that we shall hear nothing more on that subject. 
Knitting and sewing were taught here, and four read in the 
Testament. In books, the scholars were very deficient, evi- 
dently not half enough to serve the school. 

We then visited, for the last school in this Ward, School 



58 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

No. 1, kept by Miss Turner. She is, or I am greatly mis- 
taken, one of the most accomplished and thorough school- 
mistresses for a Primary School I have yet seen. On 
entering the school-room we were received with respect and 
attention, and all remained standing till we were seated; 
and during the time we were present, no disorder, and not 
the least deficiency of government appeared. I informed 
the young lady that I was commissioned to examine her 
school, and requested to propound to her a few questions 
previous to the examination. These questions she readily 
answered, and I then requested her to take her own way 
to exhibit to us the acquirements of her scholars, together 
with her own mode or system of instruction, that we might 
know exactly what the scholars had learned, and what might 
be the future prospect of improvement. She began by calling 
upon the Fourth or youngest class, which showed me instantly 
that she knew how to examine her pupils to advantage, and 
that she had already divided her school systematically into 
four classes, as the Primary Committee had agreed at their 
last meeting to have done. With this beginning I was 
pleased. The class then stood up in their places and read in 
words of one syllable, audibly and distinctly, which is not 
common for those of their standing. They were then ordered 
to close their books ; each did it instantly, and put his book 
under his arm, and renewed his position, and order of stand- 
ing. They then spelt in a distinct, and with a proper tone 
of voice, and sat down. The Third class then rose, and 
passing through similar ceremonies, read in words of three 
or four syllables, spelt, and were seated. During this period 
attention and perfect silence reigned through the school. 
The second class then rose in their place (for each class sat 
by themselves), and with like ceremonies they read in easy 
reading, and spelt quite to my satisfaction. The first class 
was then directed to rise. They read in the Testament ex- 
cellently, and spelt, and sat down. At this moment I sup- 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 59 

posed tlie mistress had completed the exhibition of her pupils, 
and was preparing myself to address a few words to them ; 
but observing a child, about six years of age, at my right 
hand, '• Sir," said the mistress, " Will you please to hear the 
child repeat the rules she has learned ? " The child handed me 
Kelley's Spelling Book, and repeated to me between 50 and 
60 rules, being all it contained in relation to letters and 
pronunciation. At her remarkable memory and attention I 
was surprised, because she appeared, at the same time, to 
understand the nature of the rules. " Sir," said the mis- 
tress, " no child is allowed to pass from the second to the 
first class who is unable to repeat these rules." A second 
repeated to me all the reading part or lessons in Kelley's 
Spelling Book, principally made up of maxims and important 
sentences. A third, all the stops and marks used in reading; 
a fourth, the use of all the capitals 5 a fifth repeated a long 
catalogue of words of similar sound, but differently spelt; a 
sixth, a long catalogue of vulgarisms, such as vinegar, not 
wine gar ; vessel, not loessel; wharf, not vaff, &c. ; a seventh, the 
use of the common abbreviations, such as A.M., D.D., LL.D., 
<fec. No one in the second class can be advanced to the first 
who has not committed to memory, and actually repeated 
all the above rules. The First class appears to be the place 
for practice, in which the use of all these rules is taught. 
This class read so excellently, I imagine they might all enter 
a second standing in our English Grammar Schools. But the 
examination did not end here ; the mistress sent us up a 
number of misses to show us wristbands they had stitched, 
and button-holes they had wrought in their leisure moments 
after they had learned their lessons. This work was neat and 
well done, and creditable to them and their instructress. But 
this was not all ; a boy was sent up with a slate, on wliich he 
had written with his pencil the common figures, and printed 
the alphabet very handsomely ; a second came with each of 
the stops and marks on his slate, and repeated to me their 



60 ANNALS OF THE PRLMARY SCHOOLS. 

names and uses ; a third came also and repeated to me the 
letters standing for numbers, such as Y. for 5, YI. for 6, &c., 
all of which were very correctly explained. 

Thus ended the examination; the pupils were neat and 
clean, and punctual at school. Knitting and sewing were 
taught ; and profanity, I understand, was a stranger among 
these children. 

School No. 1, in Ward No. 7, kept by Miss Jewett, is well 
taught. She is excellently well qualified, in my opinion, for 
an instructress, and exhibited the improvement of her pupils 
to great advantage. When I consider the part of the Ward 
from which her scholars are collected, I think she has done 
remarkably well, and but very few, if any, have surpassed 
her. Could she be induced to adopt the same system of in- 
struction as that now in use iii School No. 1, Ward No. 2, 
her school would in a short time be much improved ; as it is 
now, the children read and spelt exceedingly well. Twenty- 
seven read in the Testament, which is unusual, considering the 
whole number in the school. The children were neat and 
clean in their appearance, and attended school pretty punc- 
tually; and the mistress spoke well of their morals, and 
generally as excellent children. Knitting and sewing are 
taught. 

All which is submitted by 

Elisha Ticknor, Suh- Committee. 

In addition to this report, which was semi-annually 
made of each school, the teachers were also required to 
report quarterly to their district committees, the names, 
ages, and class to which each pupil belonged ; the num- 
ber of verses in the Bible learned by each pupil, and 
the needlework and knitting done by the girls during 
the quarter. In the first class, in one of the schools in 
Ward No. 3, the number of verses in the Bible learned 
by one of the pupils was 438, and the average for each 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 61 

pupil in the class, 267. And, as an instance of the in- 
dustrious habits encouraged in the pupils, we learn from 
the report of another school in the same district, that, 
among the articles of work done by the twenty-six girls 
of the school during the quarter, there were made " 30 
shirts, 12 pairs of sheets, 6 pairs of pillow cases, 26 
pocket handkerchiefs, 8 cravats, 10 infant's frocks, 5 
coarse bags, 4 dozen towels, 4 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of 
mittens, and a number of small pieces of work." 

1821. 

On the 15th of March, 1821, a rule was adopted, re- 
quiring the teachers to report the visits of the Ward or 
District Committees ; and, at the next monthly meeting 
of the Standing Committee, on the 10th of April, the 
Committees were appointed for the Semi-Annual Ex- 
amination. A Committee was also appointed to obtain 
information, "relative to the means of instruction en- 
joyed by the colored children of this town, and report 
at the next monthly meeting." 

At the quarterly meeting of the Board, April 28, the 
Annual Report, on the condition of the schools, was 
made by Mr. Savage, and an abstract of the Teachers' 
returns by Mr. Grant. From these documents, it ap- 
pears that the schools had increased, during the year, 
to 36 ; that the whole number of children belonging 
to the schools was 1,909; the number present at the 
examination, 1,666. Mr. Savage was requested to make 
the usual report to the town, which was presented at 
the Town meeting, in Faneuil Hall, in June, 1821. 
This was the last Annual Report that was made by the 
Primary School Board to the Town ; and the appropria- 



62 ANNALS OF THE PRLAIARY SCHOOLS. 

lion of $9,000, thereupon voted, was the last which was 
made by a direct vote of the inhabitants; as, on the 
4th of March, 1822, the City Charter was adopted by 
a vote of the citizens, and the Town meetings became 
extinct. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, May 8, it 
was " Voted, That the several Ward and District Com- 
mittees shall, annually, on the day preceding the May 
vacation, make an election of Instructors, and report 
the same to the Standing Committee ; and whenever 
they make any change of Instructor, at any other time, 
they shall report the same, and give a certificate of 
such election to each Instructor." 

At the regular monthly meeting of the Standing 
Committee, July 10, 1821, the death of their Chairman, 
Mr. Elisha Ticknor, was announced in terms due to 
so worthy a citizen and active philanthropist. On 
motion of the Secretary, it was then " Voted, That a 
Chairman be now elected, by ballot, to fill the place 
vacated by the decease of our lamented friend. Deacon 
Ticknor." 

The simple and affectionate manner in which the 
death of Mr. Ticknor was noticed by the Standing Com- 
mittee, shows the estimation in which he was held by 
those with whom he was most intimately associated. 
He was the earliest, and one of the most ardent and 
devoted pioneers in the establishment of these schools; 
his hand penned the successful petition, which was 
granted by the Town ; and, as the original Chairman of 
the Standing Committee, he devoted himself to the 
work with a vigor and energy worthy of the cause. 
The announcement of his loss to the Board, by his 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 63 

friend, coadjutor, and successor in the office, Mr. Savao-e, 
was a feeling tribute to his benevolence and public 
spirit, and was most sincerely responded to by his asso- 
ciates on the Board. 

The long-continued and earnest efforts made by Mr. 
Ticknor, in behalf of the Primary Schools, justly entitle 
him to more than a passing notice ; and we believe 
that a few facts in his history will be an interesting and 
agreeable episode. 

Elisha Ticknor was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 
1757, and lived there until 1774, when his father moved 
to New Hampshire, and, with some others, settled a 
town there, which, in regard and love for their old home 
in Connecticut, they named " Lebanon," a name the 
town still bears. Mr. Ticknor subsequently removed to 
Boston, and became the principal of the Town Grammar 
School at the South end, and continued such till about 
the year 1795, when ill health compelled him to seek 
more active occupation, in which he persevered until 
1811. Having at that time acquired a moderate com- 
petency, he voluntarily retired from all active business. 
His leisure after this induced him to give much atten- 
tion to the condition of the poorer classes in Boston. 
His early experience as a schoolmaster made him 
anxious that something should be done for the children 
between four and seven years of age, who were in a 
much less favored condition for education in Boston than 
in some of the country towns of the Commonwealth. 
His early impressions of the necessity of Primary 
Schools led him frequently to urge their imj)ortance 
upon the attention of his friends, many of whom had 
been long deeply interested in the subject, until, with 



64 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

their aid, the earnest desire of his heart was accom- 
phshed ; — the schools were established, and became a 
proud monument to his memory, and to the efforts and 
perseverance of himself and his associates. 

Side by side with this noble pioneer, was our highly 
esteemed, but now venerable fellow-citizen, James Savage, 
whose public spirit in the cause of education and philan- 
thropy requires no encomiums from us. His character 
and acts are a public record. It was his pen that 
pressed the subject on the public mind; it was he 
that defended the system through the public press, 
and replied to the arguments and the conclusions in the 
Report of the School Committee, against the establish- 
ment of Primary Schools; it was his pen that, year 
after year, drew up the reports of these schools, for the 
information of the inhabitants of the town, and in a 
manner to secure their confidence, and the necessary 
appropriations for their successful continuance. PI is 
unwearied labors through the trying period of its 
organization, and his devotion to the duties of the most 
laborious and responsible offices for many years, entitle 
him to the deep and lasting gratitude of his fellow- 
citizens, who have so long been the recipients of the 
benefits arising from this class of our schools. 

It is with peculiar pleasure, therefore, that we are 
able to present several extracts from a letter of Mr. 
Savage, in answer to the inquiries of a friend, in Feb- 
ruary, 1841, in which he gives some invaluable remin- 
iscences, of the motives and acts, of the prime movers in 
the establishment of these schools, and bears the most 
disinterested testimony to the early and active exertions 
of his friend, Mr. Ticknor. He says, " It was, I think. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 65 

in Msij, 1818, that after conference, for many weeks, on 
the lamentable deficiency of instruction for a large class 
of our population, Mr. Ticknor, with myself and a suf- 
ficient number of others, caused the Selectmen of Bos- 
ton to insert an article in the warrant for the Town 
meeting, in June, to see if the citizens would authorize 
the opening of schools, at the public expense, for chil- 
dren under the age of seven years. 

" At the Town meeting, I remember, opposition to the 
object on the ground solely of expense, was made by 
Mr. Otis and Judge Thacher. Of support of the object, 
my memory is less confident. Mr. Thomas B. "Wait, a 
printer, I am confident, spoke with some effect ; proba- 
bly Mr. Ticknor opened the discussion, and it may be he 
was sustained by Lewis Tappan, and perhaps by myself, 
but of this I have no positive recollection; I know, 
however, that the vote was carried by a respectable 
majority — at least, two to one. Five thousand dollars 
was voted by the Town to make true and sufficient 
experiments ; and it was confided to a large committee, 
chiefly of the petitioners, perhaps to the number of 
twenty or thirty. The first action of the committee 
was to take a census of the town for such children who 
would need the instruction at the public expense, be- 
tween the ages of four and seven years. Five thousand 
dollars would be adequate to the expense of twenty 
schools kept by females ; and the number of pupils 
who could be easily obtained was not less than twelve 
hundred. The work of inquisition was most faithfully 
performed by two gentlemen, I believe, in each of the 
twelve Wards; and no house or hovel, except as by 
their occupants' known happy circumstances could not 



66 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

be expected to contain children whose education was a 
burden to their j)arents' purses, was unvisited. Perhaps 
the number of Dames' Schools was found to be equal 
to seventy or eighty, but a majority of them had chil- 
dren to teach for a weekly compensation of a shilhng, 
or ninepence, or sixpence, or fourpence halfpenny each. 
Of course, there was great uncertainty in the payment 
of such fees ; and many a benevolent teacher got not a 
penny a year, but furnished books gratis to the object 
of her favor. 

" Almost infinite difficulty followed the selection of 
teachers, as all were most anxious to obtain the fixed 
and certain salary of the Primary Schools, although the 
yearly rate was put as low as two hundred dollars. But 
the natural result was to obtain the best teachers, and 
to improve their capacity annually. In the second 
year, I believe, an addition of fifty per cent, to the 
grant was made, and almost every year since the in- 
creasing population has called for greater grants, though 
not by so large gradation. 

" A chief inducement to Mr. Ticknor's exertions was 
the success which had attended the early action of our 
Savings Bank, opened only in February, 1817, of which 
he was Trustee, and afterwards Treasurer. 

" Since the success of the first year, nobody has be- 
lieved that the money of the public treasury was better 
applied in any other direction ; and I believe that no 
project could meet with more universal rejection than 
to abolish the provision for these Primary Schools. I 
have, for more than a dozen years, exonerated myself 
from the personal labor and responsibility that falls on 
the Primary School Committee, having been absorbed 



ANNALS OF THE PRLMARY SCHOOLS. 67 

in other avocations. But, I believe, my services were 
given above ten years ; and, in these humble labors, 
not a small part of my satisfaction arose from the knowl- 
edge that, to this beneficent course my first introduction 
was by means of Mr. Ticknor, who turned all his ardor 
and perseverance to the success of Primary Schools." . . 

It is a gratifying circumstance to state in this con- 
nection, that the interest exhibited by the father was 
nobly emulated by the son (Prof George Ticknor), who, 
for a number of years, was an able and valuable mem- 
ber of the Board, and also a member of the Standing 
Committee, in which his active interest appears, from 
a Semi-Annual Report made by him, in the absence of 
Mr. Savage, to the Board, at the quarterly meeting 
Nov. 19, 1822. 

In October, 1821, the Semi-Annual examination was 
made, and the Report for the Board was prepared b}^ 
Mr. Lewis Tappan. The number of schools was 36, and 
the whole number of pupils belonging 1,806, of whom 
1,528 were present at the examinations. Of this num- 
ber, 885 were girls and 921 boys; 261 had been sent 
to the Grammar Schools, and 139 pupils were reported 
in the schools who were over seven years of age. The 
Instructors were paid $240 per annum in quarterly 
payments, in full for compensation and school expenses, 
includino; rent. 



1822. 

On the 22d of May, 1822, two months after the 
organization of Boston, under a City Charter, the fol- 
lowing petition was presented to the City Council, and 



68 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

is evidently the first official introduction of the Primary 
Board to the new government : — 

To THE City Council of Boston. 

The undersigned, a Committee of the Board for providing 
instruction for children between four and seven years of age, 
appointed by the General School Committee, under a vote of 
the Town, on the 11th of June, 1818, respectfully submit to 
the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council, that the appoint- 
ment by said vote directed, may more usefully, in the opinion 
of the Board, be made for Districts, other than Wards, or 
without reference to Ward lines, but by Districts, to each of 
which six gentlemen be appointed, if the Districts be six, with 
an additional member for South Boston, or that the Board be 
permitted to increase their own number by addition, as the 
number of the schools increases. 

Thomas L. Winthrop, ^ 

James Savage, v Committee. 

Peter Mackintosh, Jr. ) 

Bosto7i, May 22, 1822. 

The Committee appointed to prepare and present 
this petition was composed of the Chairman of the 
Board, the Chairman of the Standing Committee, and 
the Secretary of the Board. This petition was not 
acted upon by the government, in consequence of the 
pressure of business, arising from the many changes re- 
quired to be made to bring the City Charter into ef- 
fectual operation. 

In June, the people of color at the northerly part of 
the city presented a petition to the Board for a Primary 
School in that section, which the Standing Committee 
deemed it expedient to refer to the Grammar School 
Committee ; " and the Secretary was directed to signify 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 69 

the willingness of the Primary Board to undertake the 
control of such African Primary Schools as the General 
School Committee may give them authority to institute 
in this City, with such expansion of powers as may 
thereby be deemed necessary. And they recommend a 
School in the North Section, and another in the West 
part of the City, to embrace the young Africans from 
four to seven years, and beyond that, if necessary, to 
qualify them to enter the regular African School in that 
quarter." 

Upon the reception of this petition and recommenda- 
tion, the Grammar Board appointed a sub-committee 
of their body, through whom a school was established 
for colored children at the North end. They also com- 
municated a request and authority to the Standing 
Committee of the Primary Board to establish a Primary 
School for these children at the west part of the city. 
A sub-committee (Messrs. Benj. Guild and Moses Grant) 
was thereupon appointed to attend to the duty ; and on 
the 7th of August, 1822, the first Primary School for 
colored children was opened in Belknap Street, in a 
room in the Rev. Mr. Paul's Church, at an annual rent 
of $72. At the commencement of this school, the 
number of scholars was 47 (19 girls and 28 boys), and 
it was placed under the charge of Miss Charlotte Foster 
(a young woman of color), whose success was satis- 
factory to the Committee, and the school soon became 
a useful auxiliary to the Grammar School. The in- 
crease of pupils rendered a second school necessary, and 
it was established in December, 1822, in Southac Street, 
with only 6 pupils, which number, however, in a few 
weeks was increased to 33. Two Silver Medals were 



70 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

purchased, with the inscription " Reward of Merit " on 
one side, and " African Primary School, 1822," on the 
other. The Committee visited these schools weekly for 
some time after their establishment, and much credit is 
due to them for their faithful services, for the children 
were, generally, very poor and ignorant, many of them 
ten and twelve years old, without knowing a letter of 
the alphabet. In a school of 50 pupils, 42 were in the 
Alphabet class. 

The City allowed $240 to each school, which included 
the salary of the teacher, rent of room, furniture and 
fuel ; but the condition of the children was such as to 
require charitable relief; and clothing, shoes and books 
were furnished by the liberality of the members of the 
Standing Committee, and particularly by the generous 
donation of $10 each quarter from the President of the 
Board (Hon. Thomas L. Winthrop), which continued 
until his resignation of the office. A private memoran- 
dum of the receipts and expenditures by the sub-com- 
mittee is the only record of the active benevolence 
which reflects so much honor upon these members of 
the Board. 

June 11, 1822, Rev. Benjamin B. Wisner was elected 
a member of the Standing Committee in place of Mr. 
Thomas B. Wait, who had removed from the city. The 
resignation of Mr. Wait was deeply regretted by the 
Standing Committee, of which he was one of the origi- 
nal members, and had performed the duties with great 
judgment and fidelity. 

In the arrangements, made by the Standing Com- 
mittee, for the semi-annual examinations, the rules 
adopted continued to evince the thorough supervision 



ANNALS OF THE PKIMARY SCHOOLS. 71 

which they felt necessary to exercise for the interests 
of the schools. By these rules the Committee were 
required to " Examine the mode of teaching the pupils 
the Alphabet, to ascertain how long they are acquir- 
ing it, and if the method can be improved ; to examine 
the School Register, and impress upon the teacher the 
necessity of accurate returns ; to inquire if the School 
has been regularly examined each Month, and by ivJiom; 
to allow the Teacher to conduct the examination a part 
of the time, that the Committee may judge of her 
capacity; to fill all the columns of the Blanks which 
are furnished, and to offer as many remarks upon the 
Schools as will render their Report interesting and 
useful." With these rules for their government, the 
schools in the several Wards " were assigned for exami- 
nation, which was to take place in fair iveather onli/, and 
previous to August 25th." 

"At a meeting of the Committee, November 12, 
1822, George Ticknor, Esq., to whom was referred the 
Sub-Committee's Semi-annual Reports, to condense the 
same, read a very able and interesting report on the 
state of each of the forty Primary Schools, as they 
appeared at the late semi-annual visitation, which was 
accepted, and ordered to be presented to the Board, at 
the quarterly meeting on the 19th instant." 

In October, 1822, a Sub-Committee of the Grammar 
School Committee made a report, from which the fol- 
lowing is an extract: "Your Committee are bound 
in duty to express their great satisfaction at the zeal 
and diligence with which the gentlemen who have 
been chosen members of the Committee of Primary 
Schools, have hitherto discharged the duties assigned 
them." 



72 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

1823. 

In March, 1823, the City Council, by concurrent 
action, authorized the appointment of a sufficient num- 
ber of Primary School Committee, to allow one member 
for each school. In a report of the Committee on Pub- 
lic Instruction, City Document No. 22, which was 
adopted, and ordered to be printed, April 17, 1852, the 
following paragraph occurs : 

" The Grammar School Committee "was instructed by the 
people in town meeting, in the year 1818, to appoint annually 
thirty-six gentlemen to take charge of the Primary Schools ; 
but it does not appear by what authority this number has 
been increased from thirty-six to one hundred and ninety, 
or how it is that the Primary School Board came into the 
possession of powers which are not granted to the Grammar 
Board, and which that Board has never presumed to exercise; 
such for instance as that of filling its own vacancies — unless 
it be that not having its duties and privileges defined by law, 
it became a law unto itself." 

This is a grave charge upon the reputation of the 
Primary Board, and emanating as it does from a Com- 
mittee of high official position, we deem it our duty to 
present the official record of the petition, and the 
action thereupon of the City Government, as transmit- 
ted to the Grammar Board by the City Clerk, which, 
with the subsequent action of the Grammar and Pri- 
mary School Committee, proves, that there was no 
ground for such a charge ; but, that in this, as in all 
other acts, the Primary Board in no case transcended 
the proper legitimate authority with which it was 
invested. 



ANNALS OF THE PRI^UEY SCHOOLS. 73 



PETITION OF THE COMMITTEE OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of 
Boston : 
Humbly represent, the undersigned, that by a vote of the 
Town of Boston, at a legal meeting, 11th June, 1818, the 
School Committee were directed, in June annually, to appoint 
three persons in each Ward to pfovide instruction for children 
between four and seven years of age ; that said appointment 
has in subsequent years been annually made, and that great 
attention to that trust has been bestowed by the several per- 
sons so appointed, and that the number of such little children 
now amounts to about twenty-one hundred, instructed at 
forty-two schools ; that these schools being taught by females, 
require very frequent visits and examinations, and that the 
number of the Committee is not found sufficient, since it is 
desirable that each School should have one member of the 
Committee to direct the admission of pupils, and to watch 
over the economy of the School ; that in some Wards there 
are but one or two Schools, in others, six or seven. Where- 
fore, they being thereunto directed by the general Committee 
of the Board for Primary Schools, request that the School 
Committee may be authorized to constitute such an additional 
number of members for this purpose as may be adequate to 
its object, not less than ffty being now needed, or that this 
Board itself may be empowered to increase its number as to 
them may s,eem good; and as in duty bound shall ever pray. 

James Savage, 
Moses Grant, 
P. Mackintosh, Jr., 
Thomas Wells, 
Lewis Tappan, 
Benj. B. Wisner, 
Benj. Guild, 

10 



Standing 
Committee. 



74 ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 

This petition is thus endorsed : 

In Common Council, March 3, 1823. 
Read, and committed to Messrs. John Welles and Araory, 
with such as the Board of Aldermen may join to consider 
and report. 

Sent up for concurrence. 

Wm. Peescott, President. 

In Board of Aldermen, March 6, 1823. 

Read and concurred, and Alderman Jenkins is joined. 

John Phillips, Mayor. 

The Committee, to whose consideration was referred the 
foregoing petition, are of opinion that the prayer of the 
petitioners ought to be granted, and that an order pass the 
City Council, authorizing the School Committee to appoint 
such additional number of Superintendents for the Primary 
Schools as they may deem proper. 

By order of the Committee. 

March 17, 1823. Joseph Jenkins, Chairman, 

In Board of Aldermen, March 17, 1823. 
Read and accepted, and ordered accordingly. 
Sent down for concurrence. 
' John Phillips, il!fa?/or. 

In Common Council, March 17, 1823. 
Read and concurred. 

"Wm. Peescott, President. 
A true copy. Attest, 

S. F. McCleary, Citij Clerk. 

The foregoing petition was drawn up by the Chair- 
man of the Standing Committee (Mr. Savage), and 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 



75 



adopted at tlieir meeting on the 1st of March. The 
prompt action, in relation to the subject, by the City 
Government, is evidence that the f)opular influence of 
the Primary Schools had not deteriorated by the adop- 
tion of the City Charter. The Grammar School Com- 
mittee having referred the communication of the City 
Clerk to the Standing Committee, at a meeting of that 
body on the 15th of April, it was '^ Voted, That the 
Secretary of the Board notify a meeting on the 29th, 
at 3 P. M. ; and also request the members to select suit- 
able candidates in the Districts, where they will be 
wanted to furnish one committee-man to each school." 

The Board having, at this meeting, elected the proper 
number of members, on the 2d of July the Standing 
Committee held a special meeting, the object of which 
was to new district the city, so as to make seven dis- 
tricts, as nearly equal as possible, in conformity with 
the duty assigned them by the Board, and after due 
deliberation, arranged them as follows, viz. : — 



Instructors' Karnes. 



Charlotte Emerson 

Lucy Ditson 

Susan C. Adarhs. . . 
Sarah Domett . . . . 
Harriet B. Luce . . . 
Mary A. Eaton. . . . 

Eliza Barnes 

Mary A. Wilder . . 

Ruth Bonner 

Hannah H. Hansell 
Eliza P. Snow. . . . , 
Aphia Turner . . . . 



Location of Schools. 



District No. 1. 
Charter Street . . 
North Street .... 
N. Bennet Street 

Ship Street 

Fleet Street .... 
Battery Alley . . . 



District No. 
Back Street . . , 
Middle Street 
Cross Street . 
Prince Street 
Ann Street . . 



No. 



Committee of District. 



North Square | 6 



Thaddeus Page. 
John Elliot. 
Henry Fowle, Jr. 
John Fenno, Jr. 
Thomas Fracker. 
Charles Lincoln, Jr. 



Caleb H. Snow. 
Ellis B. Green. 
Edward Page. 
John Farrie, Jr. 
Joseph Lewis. 
H. Bates. 



76 



ANNALS OF THE PRLMARY SCHOOLS. 



Instructors' Names. 



Elizabeth Deslion 

Sarah Deshon 

MaryM. Vallett 

Sarah Gragg 

Maria H. Parmenter . . . 

— Welsh 

Mary A. Calvary 

Maria Bates 

Elizabeth Ford 

Sally Jewett.. .■ 

Lydia Johnson 

Harriet Gragg 

Charlotte Foster 

Naomi Jeffers 

Mrs. Newraarch 

Miss Newmarch 

Margaret Fox 

Sarah Blanchard 

Mrs. Bacon 

Lucy II. Greene 

Rebecca Beaman 

Sarah Mackintosh 

Ann Hope , 

Mary A. Thaxter 

S. Siders & Mrs. Cazneau 
Mrs. Wakefield 

Maria Hagar 

Mary A. Bell , 

Elizabeth Groves 

Catharine Thayer 

Charlotte Cole 



Location of Schools. 



District No. 3. 
Scott's Court. . . . 
Hanover Street . 
Portland Street . 

Pitts Court 

Leverett Place . . 
Leverett Street. . 
Brighton Street . 
Spring Street . . . 



District No. 4. 
Blossom Street . . 
S. Russell Street. 

May Street 

Cambridge Street 
Belknap Street . 
Southac Street . . 

District No. 5. 

Broad Street 

Broad Street 

Purchase Street . . 

Pearl Street 

Sister Street 

Newbury Street . . 

District No. 6. 
Nassau Street .... 

Elliot Street 

Pleasant Street. . . 
Rainsford Street. . 
South Street Court 
Sea Street 

District No. 7. 

Warren Street ... 
Orange Street.. . . 
Washington Street 
South Boston . . . . , 
South Boston . . . . , 



No. 



Committee of District. 



Reuben Richards. 
George Lane. 
Charles Hood. 
Charles Ewer. 
George Domett. 
Dr. E. Maynard. 
Benjamin French. 
Peter Mackintosh, Jr. 



William J. Spooner. 
Lewis G. Pray. 
Daniel Henchman. 
Charles G. Loring. 
Wm. J. Spooner. 
Robt. AVard. 



Dr. Z. B. Adams. 
Isaac P. Osgood. 
Isaac Mansfield. 
Abiel Chandler. 
J. A. Haven. 
Wm. T. Andrews. 



George Ticknor. 
Samuel Greele. 
Benj. A. Gould. 
Samuel Davis. 
Dr. Enoch Hale, Jr. 
Wm. H. Prescott. 



Gerry Fairbanks. 
Samuel Bradlee. 
Benj. Stevens. 
Rev. Lemuel Capen. 
Rev. Theodore Edson. 



This duty having been accomplished, it was then 
" Voted, That the Committee^ assigned to each district, be 
requested to organize themselves by the choice of a 
Chairman and Secretary, and to appoint one gentleman 
to the particular care of each school, and make a re- 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 77 

turn to the Secretary of the Standing Committee by 
the 12th inst." These returns were duly received, the 
schools being assigned, as in the preceding list, and the 
whole embraced in a report carefully prepared by the 
Chairman, and presented to the Board at the ensuing 
quarterly meeting. 

The new organization of the Primary Board was at- 
tended with increased watchfulness and labor on the 
part of the Standing Committee ; and it was fortunate 
that the principal care and responsibility rested upon 
those so eminently qualified for the duties. Relying 
upon the confidence reposed in them by the Board, — 
strict in their construction of the line of duty required 
to render the schools prosperous, — conscientious in 
the faithful discharge of their trust, — their reports are 
characterized by a fearless independence in relation to 
the delinquency of members, and the suggestions of 
reform. In their first Semi-Annual Report, after the 
reorganization, made at the quarterly meeting of the 
Board in August, the neglect in one of the districts is 
severely noticed. After giving the Statistics of the 
schools, the Report states, "that the Committee of Dis- 
trict report to us ^ that they have appointed a com- 
mittee of three to examine each school once a quarter, 
in addition to the monthly visits.' This is gratifying 
information, and the more so because it is noted on the 

return of Miss r that the Committee have not visited 

her school during the quarter ! The same committee 
suggest that, ^ When additional blank returus are 
printed for the instructors, they may contain other 
columns to include such facts as would be inquired for 
by the Board, and thereby save considerable labor for 



78 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

the District Committees.' We hope that improvement 
will soon be introduced in these forms ; but the idea 
of saving labor to the Committee cannot be encouraged. 
Unfortunately, the Committee of this District have 
saved themselves too much of the proper labor of their 
office ; and, from the imperfection of their returns, we 
are obliged to confide in their assurance, ' that the in- 
structors have continued to discharge their duty with 
industry and zeal,' and that Hhe schools have con- 
tinued to improve since the last quarterly returns.' 

" It is with regret that we mark the deficiencies of their 
Report, or allude to some of its errors, except for im-- 
provement. Under the column of ^Times of Examina- 
tion ' is written ' sundry times,' but we have no results 
of an examination in any one of the six schools at 
either of the ^sundry times.' We usually hope to 
find the errors of the instructor's returns corrected in 
the Committee's Reports, but in this instance Ave have 
seen the reverse, and we were led into such great 
mistakes by their Report, and so confused was our 
statement, drawn from it, that we were obliged to re- 
write two pages to make it intelligible." 

In several of the other Districts, just praise was 
awarded, to the Committee and teachers, for the man- 
ner in which their several duties were performed. 
We find also in this, as in other of the early reports, 
a commendable conservatism in regard to the forma- 
tion of nc?v schools. The Committee at South Boston 
having petitioned for another school, the Standing 
Committee observe : " The two South Boston schools 
have only 51 and 53 pupils, while in the same Dis- 
trict are three schools on this side of the bridge, with 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 79 

an average of 60 ; the Standing Committee, therefore, 
cannot omit to express their decided opinion, that, 
as the largest number p'esent at either of these schools, 
on any of the nine visits, except one, was 48, another 
school cannot be more wanted in this district than in 
two or three others ; and it seems to them, that at 
present, we had better continue with our forty-three 
schools, which is one more than our appropriation 
of funds is calculated for, and make no increase until 
the ensuing spring." 

At this time the total number of pupils belonging 
to the schools was 2,294; being an average of over 
63 to each school. 

In the same report, the Standing Committee con- 
gratulate the Board that " the City Government have 
granted $10,500 for the support of this establishment 
for the current year, besides $500 to enable us to 
make some small additions to the Instructor's com- 
pensation ; " and they suggest, that, " perhaps the 
best division of this additional sum will be to give 
ten dollars to each instructor, making the annual sal- 
ary an even sum of $250." 

This was adopted, and also a recommendation ol 
the Committee, that " the vacation shall be on Wednes- 
day afternoon, instead of Thursday, which will divide 
the week more equally." In consequence of the non- 
concurrence of the Grammar Board, this recommenda- 
tion was not carried into effect till 1829. 

At the meeting of the Standing Committee, Sep- 
tember 9, 1823, among the Rules to be observed at 
the Semi-annual Examination, " The number (and 
names, if thought best,) of all * truants,' were to be 
reported;" "the appearance of the room and schol- 



80 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

ars as to cleanliness ; " " the faithfulness of the Com- 
mittee." The capacity of the teacher, &c., &c., were 
also to be noticed. The Examining Reports were 
made at the October meeting, when an unfavorable 
report of the African Primary School No. 2 having 
been made by Mr. Williams, the subject was referred 
to the Secretary, who subsequently reported that he 
"had visited the school, and found 25 children pre- 
sent, and from conversation with the local Commit- 
tee, he had no doubt that every means would be 
used to restore the school to its former prosperity." 
A note was also received from the local Committee, 
" explaining the circumstances of its apparent decline, 
and that the number had now increased to about 
35 ; and also, that he had endeavored to inform the 
instructress as to her duty, and to stimulate the schol- 
ars in their attendance and good behavior." 

At the meeting of the Standing Committee, Octo- 
ber 28th, the Chairman (Mr. Savage,) was directed 
to "prepare a condensed report, according to his 
views, and offer such resolutions as the state of the 
schools require ; and as the report of each District 
will be communicated to the Committee of the dis- 
trict, it will not be necessary to go into the character 
of each school, as heretofore." 

In conformity with these instructions, Mr. Savage 
prepared a general report on the condition of the 
schools, from the Examiner's returns, and presented 
the following Resolutions, which were adopted by the 
Board : 

Resolved, That the Chairman or Secretary of each Dis- 
trict Committee be authorized and requested to call on 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 81 

tlie Secretary of the Standing Committee of this Board, 
(Deacon Grant,) to receive the several reports of the Semi- 
Annual Examination of their respective schools, and keep 
the same not exceeding four weeks. 

Resolved, That the several District Committees be desired, 
as early as convenient, to hold meetings, and agree on some 
effectual measures for the immediate supply of books to 
the children in their several schools, and for correcting 
any evils that may appear in the condition of the schools 
or the instructors, "whether suggested by the Standing Com- 
mittee or not. 

Resolved, That the several District Committees be desired, 
as early as convenient, to adopt forms of books, ruled and 
divided into all the heads desirable for preserving, by the 
instructors, a record of absences, tardiness, visits, and state 
of the school for every day. 

Resolved, That it be considered the duty of each member 
of the several District Committees to examine the state of 
each school in his district, at least once in a year, besides 
his special devotion to the school assigned to him, so that 
at their monthly meetings the character of each school may 
be known to all. 

The Secretary of the Board was directed to com- 
nmnicate to the Secretary of each District a copy of 
these Resolutions. 

From this report we also learn that on the 1st of 
October, 1823, there were belonging to the schools 
1,125 girls, and 1,223 boys, being a total of 2,348. 
Of these, 330 were over seven years of age. The number 
sent to the Grammar Schools in the last six months, 
350, and the number qualified for admission, 100, 
making the whole number qualified, 450. 

u 



82 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

1824. 

March 9. The Standing Committee proceeded to 
make the usual arrangements for the Semi-annual 
Examination, to take place " between the 15th of 
March and 1st of April, in fair weather, and within 
the usual school hours." "The Chairman of each 
District to be notified, and the Instructor informed 
of the intended examinatiou, one day previous to 
the visit, that all proper arrangements may be made." 

The results of this examination are given in the 
Keport of the Standing Committee, which was pre- 
pared by Messrs. James Savage and Lewis Tappan, 
and presented to the Board, April 20. The interest- 
ing subjects embraced in this report, and the correct 
view it affords of the management of the schools at 
this time, are worthy of record, and the insertion of 
the entire document. 

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT 

Of the Standing Committee to the Primary School Cammiltee, 
April 20, 1824. 
Agreeably to the arrangement made by the Standing 
Committee, all the Primary Schools in the city were visited 
and examined by the members of the Standing Committee, 
aided by the District Committees, between the 15th and 
31st of March last, as follows : 



District No. 


1 


7 schools, 


Mr. Moses Williams. 


(I 


2 


6 


ic 


Mr. Thomas "Wells. 


u 


3 


8 


a 


Mr. Moses Grant. 


u 


4 


6 


a 


Benjamin Guild, Esq. 


a 


5 


6 


u 


James Savage, Esq. 


ti 


6 


6 


{( 


Mr. Lewis Tappan. 


ti 


7 


5 


(I 


Rev. B. B. Wisner. 






44 schools. 


2,463 scholars. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 83 

The subjects of inquiry -were the following : 

1. The children of each sex present, and belonging, of 
each class. 

2. The number sent to the Grammar Schools during the 
last six months, and the number now qualified. 

3. The number of Truants, and the effect, of former 
inquiries upon this class of scholars. 

4. The Instructor's mode of keeping a record of tardi- 
ness and absence of her pupils, and of the visits and 
examinations by the District Committees. 

5. The economy of the School-rooms, and the cleanliness 
of the children. 

6. The School Hours. 

7. Respecting Sewing and Knitting. 

8. Deficiency of .Books. 

9. The discipline, mode of instructing, and proficiency 
of the scholars. 

Each member of the Standing Committee made a written 
Report of all the subjects of inquiry, which will be delivered 
to the District Committees, and thus save the necessity of a 
voluminous report by the Standing Committee. They, how- 
ever, recommend to the respective District Committees to 
circulate these reports among the members of their Boards 
respectively, and take such measures in relation to the 
schools under their charge, as may appear necessary. 

The number of pupils present in all the schools was 
2,171; 1,054 boys, and 1,017 girls. The number absent 
was 290; 122 boys, and 168 girls. 

The grand total belonging to the schools was 2,463 ; 
1,278 boys, and 1,185 girls. The increase since the last 
semi-annual examination, being the average number present 
in the schools, was 49^| ; and the average number belonging 
was 56. One new school was established in District No. 
1 the last six months, and one in District No. 7, since our 
examination, while making this report. No changes have 



84 ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 

been made in the Instructors during that period. A new 
school was found to be wanted in District No. 6. 

The numbers present at the examination amounted to 
above 88 per cent, of the whole number belonging, which 
is unusually large, and highly gratifying. It is to be attrib- 
uted to the greater attention of the District Committees, 
the vigilance of the Instructors, and it is hoped, to a better 
appreciation by the parents of the benefits derived from 
these seminaries. 

The number sent to the Grammar Schools during the last 
sis months was 76 ; all boys, of course, as the ancient and 
unnecessary custom of prohibiting girls from attending Gram- 
mar Schools in the winter season has not been abolished. 
It is a subject of congratulation, however, that the autumn 
term is prolonged, and the girls may now attend until 
December. When it is considered that the same expenses 
are incurred by the city, in winter as in summer, in the 
number of masters and ushers, that the custom of girls 
attending private schools throughout the year, is very gen- 
eral amongst us ; and that the sentiment of the advantages 
of education to females is now very prevalent, it is to be 
hoped and confidently expected that a prohibition of our 
predecessors whose notions in regard to education and the 
claims of the other sex were less enlightened than those 
prevailing at the present day will be abolished. About 270 
were found qualified. 

The members of the Select Committee have in their 
reports expressed their opinions in regard to the numbers 
qualified agreeably to the Rules for admission into the 
Grammar Schools. 

It is respectfully urged upon the District Committees to 
see that those who are recommended for admission into the 
Grammar Schools are thorough in the acquisitions required 
by the Rules, to the end that the reputation of the Primary 
Schools may be preserved, and a laudable impulse imparted 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 85 

to the Grammar Schools in keeping in advance of those who 
enter from lower seminaries. 

It is probably known to many members of the District 
Committee; that children must now apply for admission into 
the Grammar School on the first Monday in the month, and 
that they cannot be received on any other day. 

Truanting has diminished in these schools, and the admo- 
nitions given to truants have had a happy tendency. The 
morals of the pupils, so far as the Select Committee could 
ascertain, are as correct as could be expected, and illustrate 
the benign effects of good discipline, of intellectual and 
religious instruction, imparted by the lessons taught in these 
schools. 

The Joxirnals of the schools, though improved, are far from 
being uniform or perfect. Dr. Hale, of the Committee for 
District No. 6, has devised a plan, so excellent, that the 
Standing Committee recommend it as a form for all the 
schools. It is a folio book, calculated for recording the 
names of all the scholars on one page, so as to give at one 
view the name, date of entrance, age, parent's name, rewards, 
tardiness and absence. A Diary is also kept, in the same 
book, giving the day of the month, day of the week, section 
of day, state of the weather, number present, number absent, 
and remarks. It occasions but little trouble to the In- 
structor to keep such a book ; it, in fact, saves her time, and 
prevents perplexity in giving a verbal account of her school 
to the Visiting Committees, and written accounts on the 
quarterly returns ; it is of great use to the Committees, in- 
asmuch as they can, on inspecting it, ascertain the attend- 
ance of each half day, between their examinations; and it 
furthermore serves to record the visits and examinations of 
the District Committee. 

The only part of the plan about which a difference of 
opinion might exist, is the columns for best and poorest 
scholars each half day. So many circumstances are to be 



86 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

taken into consideration, in deciding these facts, such as 
natural abilities, industry, proficiency, behavior, <fcc., that 
an Instructor would be perplexed to decide every day out 
of 50 pupils. 

It affords great pleasure to the Standing Committee to 
state, that the effects of new districting the city, new organ- 
izing the Committees, introducing more system into the 
superintendence, supplying the Instructors with Walker's 
Dictionary and the Pronouncing Testament, have been very 
important and encouraging. The schools were never so 
regularly and faithfully examined as they have been the last 
six months. A conscientious spirit seems to have pervaded 
every Board, and the members have given evidence that they 
will not hold ofi&ces without discharging the duties of them, 
nor be unfaithful to the responsible and important interests 
committed to their charge. The Instructors, with some 
exceptions, have better qualified themselves to be good teach- 
ers, their pronunciation is improved and more uniform, and 
the discipline and instruction of their pupils more judicious 
and thorough. 

There appears to be a deficiency of books, especially in 
the Third and Fourth classes, in many of the schools. The 
Standing Committee attribute it, to a considerable extent, to 
the expectation of a new Spelling Book, to supersede the 
Child's Companion and Instructor. They have the gratifi 
cation to notice the publication of Mr. Fowle's Rational 
Guide, a copy of which has been sent to each member of 
this Board. If it has appeared, on examination, to you as 
it has to the Standing Committee, it will be adopted in the 
Primary Schools, and be greeted as the most systematic, 
correct, and useful Spelling Book that has been published 
in this country. 

An accurate and uniform edition of the New Testament 
is much wanted in these schools. The editions now used 
are so numerous, and many of them of such bad paper, so 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 87 

badly printed; so various in punctuation, that much perplex- 
ity is occasioned to the instructors, and to the pupils. 

It may be questioned, whether it is useful to require the 
Fourth class to obtain books. To such small children books 
are mere playthings. No child, ought to be entrusted with 
a book, who does not know its value, and feel ambitious of 
preserving it in good order. The habit of treating books 
lightly ought not to be formed. Cards are cheaper and 
equally useful for such children as books. 

Heretofore the school hours in the Primary Schools have 
not been uniform, nor the half holidays universally on the 
same days. Some schools have had but one session in a 
day, viz. : from nine to three o'clock. This practice has 
prevailed also in some j)rivate seminaries in the city; but 
it has been introduced to accommodate the hours of dinins; 
of parents, and against the opinions and inclinations of 
intelligent and humane instructors. 

As this Board are the guardians of the physical as well 
as intellectual wants of the children under our superintend- 
ence, it behoves us to guard scrupulously against injuring 
their constitutions by allowing instructors to seclude them 
from recreation and wholesome air for too long a period 
at a time. Experience teaches that such a practice will 
be detrimental alike to body and mind; and it is believed 
a great and irreparable injury will be done to these pupils 
if long continued sessions are for any reasons permitted. 
It would be well also if the half holidays were alike, and 
if the school hours could be the same. When companions 
are roaming abroad in play, it naturally produces discontent 
in those who are at schools. These subjects are necessarily 
committed to the wise discretion of the District Commit- 
tees. It is obvious that there is much waste of time in 
nearly all these schools. There is little study, and not 
a third of the time is allotted to recitation of each pupil. 
For the largest part of the day the school-room is more a 



bo ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

place of confinement than of study. This applies particu- 
larly to the youngest classes, and is true, with various de- 
grees of exception, to all the schools. It becomes then a 
natural inquiry, whether the children cannot be more con- 
stantly occupied without injuring them. The well attested 
experience in the schools of mutual instruction bears evi- 
dence that young persons of the tender age of seven years 
may be actively employed six hours a day, properly divided, 
without rendering instruction tiresome or hurtful; on the 
contrary, no scholars receive instruction, or apply them- 
selves with greater pleasure or success. Children of all 
ages are incessantly employed out of school, without fatigue 
or disgust; and the reason is, there is perpetual variety in 
their amusements and occupations. If their instructors 
and Committees will take a hint from Nature, they will 
perceive that if instruction be made a system of diversi- 
fied amusement, and the discipline is maternal, an untiring 
interest can be preserved in the minds of the pupils. 

The usual mode of teaching the Alphabet appears to the 
Standing Committee to be inefficient and improper. The 
first step in the path of knowledge should be associated 
with pleasurable ideas, and made as interesting as possible; 
the young pupils should be allured, not driven. There will 
ever be truanting, tardiness, and inattention when in school, 
where instruction is accompanied by frowns, scolding and 
frequent chastisement. 

It is scarcely necessary to observe that the ancient mode 
of teaching ABC, which is the prevailing mode at present 
in most of the Primary Schools, is anything but alluring 
or pleasant to the pupils. Some improvements have been 
introduced ; in the alphabet wheel, alphabet sheet, and sand 
forms, wherever sufficiently tried, these experiments have 
succeeded admirably well. They interest and improve 
the learners better than any other mode known to the 
Standing Committee. Besides, they do not engross the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 89 

time of tlie instructor so much as the ancient system. The 
excellent mode of teaching the Alphabet by Mrs. Hope and 
Mrs. Thaxter, of District No. 6, may be recommended to 
the Board as worthy of adoption in all the schools. The 
children form a semi-circle near the wheel; at the foot of 
it is placed the large printed Alphabet, and affixed to the 
shaft of the wheel is the small printed Alphabet, taken 
from a spelling book. One of the children holds the board 
on which the letters are painted, and another turns the 
wheel. The instructor points to a letter on the printed 
sheet, and the pupil is required to name it, and afterwards 
to find the same letter at each of the other places, naming 
the large and small letters. By this operation, the same 
letter is seen in four places, and the same letter, in two 
forms, at each place. 

A monitor is taken from the first class to superintend 
the pupils at the sand form, when the children learn to 
make a letter at the same time they learn its name. It is 
ascertained that months' labor is saved by these modes 
of teaching the alphabet, and that it is a pleasant exercise 
to both teacher and learner. There is no doubt but the 
introduction of other parts of the popular and excellent 
system of Mutual Instruction into the Primary Schools, 
and into each class, would be attended with important 
benefits. 

Monitorial instruction relieves the instructor, and per- 
mits her to be more thorough in teaching the elder schol- 
ars. 

It is a subject of considerable complaint, with many 
'inhabitants, who take great interest in the good of society, 
that knitting and sewing are not more attended to in the 
Primary Schools. It is declared by respectable ladies, 
that the poor are sadly deficient in the arts of sewing and 
knitting, a knowledge of which is so necessary to the com- 
fort of their families. Frequently this subject has been 

12 



90 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

alluded to in the Primary Board. In many schools sew- 
ing is attended to in a sufficient degree to be recorded in 
the quarterly returns, and to comply with the Rules. There 
are difficulties arising from the want of materials among 
the poorest people, particularly for knitting, and an indis- 
position on their part to aid their children in these indus- 
trious habits. Still, a skilful use of the needle, and a 
facility in knitting, are as useful to the poor as instruc- 
tion in reading or spelling, and probably more so; and it 
seems as much the duty of society to afford the means 
of instruction. Another obstacle arises from the large 
numbers in the average of schools, and the impossibility 
in some, for one instructor to teach sewing and knitting, 
in addition to a faithful attention to the other branches 
required. But it is thought that if no school is allowed 
to exceed fifty in number, the instructor would be able to 
form a sewing and knitting class, to include all the girls 
belonging to the school, who are of sufficient age; and 
that two afternoons in each week, at least, if not every 
afternoon, should be exclusively devoted to these useful 
branches of female education. After subtracting so con- 
siderable a portion from the time allowed to girls, a rec- 
ompense might be made to them for the advantage the 
boys would have over the girls in devoting all the school 
hours to study, in procuring the abolition of the custom 
of girls not being allowed to attend the Grammar Schools 
during the winter months; a custom very unnecessary in 
this city, if necessary anywhere, and contrary to the usage 
prevailing in the higher classes of society, whose children 
attend private schools throughout the year, without dis- 
tinction of sex. 

The "Ward Vaccinating Committees recommended to the 
City Council to prohibit the admission into the Grammar 
Schools of all children who have not had the kiue pock. 
That body, for wise reasons, deemed it injudicious thus to 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 91 

visit the neglect of parents upon their offspring; but the 
object is important, and may probably be attained by another 
and less objectionable way. 

If the District Committees, before giving tickets of ad- 
mission to the Grammar Schools, will ascertain whether 
the scholar has been vaccinated; and in case it has not 
been done, will devote a little friendly aid to the accom- 
plishment of this desirable object, the wish of the Ward 
Vaccinating Committees will, in a great measure, be attained, 
the child be greatly benefited, and the community protected. 

The Standing Committee deem it to be their imperious 
duty to notice, in this Report, the case of those children, 
of both sexes, over seven years of age, who are not quali- 
fied for admission into the Grammar Schools ; many of 
them, by indulgence, are suffered to remain in the Primary 
Schools. A few are permitted to enter after arriving at 
the age of seven, and a considerable number are debarred 
from all instruction, except at Sunday Schools. It will be 
recollected that a year or two since a Lancasterian school 
was opened on Fort Hill, under the patronage of the general 
School Committee, for the accommodation of this descrip- 
.tion of youth. It succeeded remarkably well, was doing 
great good to the pupils and to society, when suddenly it 
was discontinued by order of the School Committee, on 
account of the master, Mr. Fowle, resigning his office for 
the purpose of commencing a private school on the same 
principles. Another gentleman, well qualified, stood ready 
to succeed the first master; but for some reason, not known 
to the Committee, was not appointed, and the scholars were 
dispersed. That in this city a considerable number of youth 
should be suffered to grow up destitute of the advantages 
secured to the children generally, and be abandoned to idle- 
ness, vagrancy, ignorance, and crime, reflects no honor on the 
citizens or our institutions, and demands prompt attention. 

The schools are in better condition this spring than at any 



92 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

previous examination. The system has been gradually ad- 
vancing to excellence throughout every department of it, and 
may now be contemplated with satisfaction and pride. The 
healthy appearance of the children, their general neat attire, 
their happy faces, their good conduct and proficiency in study, 
afford additional proof of the wisdom that established these 
schools, and commend them to the continued vigilant and 
persevering superintendence of the committees, and the 
liberal support of the city authorities. 

The Standing Committee beg leave to submit several 
Resolutions, embracing several topics noticed in this Eeport, 
which are offered for the consideration and disposal of this 
Board: — 

1. Resolved, That the Chairman of every District be re- 
quested to prepare a diary for each instructor in his District, 
similar to that in Messrs. Siders and Cazneau's School, Essex 
Street, in District No. 6, and that each instructor in the 
Primary Schools be required, from and after the expiration 
of the present quarter, to keep the records of her school 
agreeably to said plan, with the omission of the columns for 
best and poorest scholars. 

2. Resolved, That Dr. Hale, Dr. Ware and Col. Fairbanks 
be a committee to inquire and report at the quarterly meet- 
ing in May next, on the expediency of having new Testa- 
ments in a uniform edition, gradually introduced for all the 
pupils in the first classes in the Primary Schools ; and also 
which edition may most conveniently and satisfactorily be 
adopted. 

3. Resolved, That the Chairmen of the seven Districts be a 
committee, to examine into the most approved methods of 
teaching the alphabet ; that they be authorized to adopt a uni- 
form system, together with such improvements from the 
monitorial system as they shall deem proper; and that they 
make a report of their doings at the next quarterly meeting. 

4. Resolved, That the Chairmen of the District Committees 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 93 

be a committee to prepare suitable reading and spelling les- 
sons on cards for the use of the fourth classes in the Primary 
Schools, to supersede the use of hoohs, and to cause the same 
to be introduced into all the schools. 

5. Resolved, That it be recommended to the several District 
Committees to ascertain that each pupil, before receiving a 
ticket of admission into a grammar school, has been vac- 
cinated; and if said pupil has not had the kine pock, to 
befriend said pupil, so that it may be vaccinated. 

6. Resolved, That Mr. J. Savage, Dr. Hale and Mr. J. R. 
Adan be a committee to draw a respectful memorial to the 
School Committee of this city, praying them to take into 
consideration the case of the youth over seven years of age, 
and not qualified for the Grammar Schools, and to provide 
for them instruction on the Monitorial System, or such other 
as they may consider best adapted for these children. 

7. Resolved, That henceforward all the girls in the Primary 
Schools, who have arrived at the age of six years, shall de- 
vote the afternoons of every Tuesday and Friday to sewing 
or knitting. 

This Report and the Resolutions were adopted by the 
Board, and the first change was made in the originally 
selected school books by the adoption of "Fowle's 
Rational Guide " as a reading book, to be introduced 
into the Primary Schools on and after the 1st of May. 

At the quarterly meeting of the Board, May 18th, 
Mr. Savage, in behalf of the Standing Committee, read 
a memorial to the City Government for an appropria- 
tion of $11,200, for 47 schools at $240 each, which was 
adopted, and the Standing Committee directed to 
present the same to the City Council, who, in June, 
appropriated the required amount. 

Mr. Savage having resigned as Chairman of the 



94 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Standing Committee at the close of the school year in 
June, the Committee was organized August 10, 1824, 
by the choice of Thomas Wells, Esq., as Chairman, and 
MosES Grant as Secretary. The members elected by 
the Board were Rev. B. B. Wisner, Thomas Wells, Moses 
Grant, Benjamin Guild, J. P. Osgood and William T. 
Andrews. 

The schools for colored children continued to be a 
source of great trouble and anxiety to the Committee ; 
and in consequence of the ill success of the teacher of 
the African School No. 2, she was superseded on the 
1st of July " by the appointment of Mrs. Catherine 
Paul, the wife of the Rev. Mr. Paul, the esteemed 
colored clergyman, who immediately entered upon the 
trust, and was permitted to change the location of the 
school from Southac to George Street, her place of 
residence. The room is not so large as the former, 
but is more airy and central ; and the advantage to be 
derived from its being under the roof of the Rev. Mr. 
Paul determined the Committee in its favor. The 
change, in all respects, is for the better. The numbers 
have increased from 40 to GO, and the average attend- 
ance from 30 to 50. The school has a more orderly 
and cleanly appearance ; and in the studies and man- 
ners of the children there is much improvement. The 
influence of Mr. Paul, which is kindly and judiciously 
exercised both in and out of school, is of great service ; 
and, judging from the month during which Mrs. Paul 
has had charge of the school, the Committee believe 
that the result will satisfy their highest expectations." 
The success of Mrs. Paul was very good, and the Com- 
mittee induced her to continue the charge of the school 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 95 

for several years, and then she was succeeded by her 
daughter, Miss Susan Paul, under whose care the school 
remamed until 1838. 

It will be recollected, that in July, 1820, at the solici- 
tation of the Primary Board, a school for Mutual In- 
struction, for children between seven and fourteen years 
of age, was established in the Boylston School House. 
This school had been quite successful, but was insuf- 
ficient to accommodate the increase of children whose 
education had been neglected, and those who were con- 
tinually arriving from other countries ; and in Novem- 
ber, 1824, a Special Committee of the Primary Board 
w^as appointed to apply to the School Committee, 
respecting further provision, for the instruction of such 
children who were too old for the Primary, and were 
unqualified for the Grammar Schools. This petition 
was referred by the Grammar School Board to a sub- 
committee, in whose hands the subject remained un- 
attended to until February, 1826, when they made a 
report, recommending an application to the City Coun- 
cil for means to establish one or more schools for pupils 
of the above description, and the application was made 
accordingly ; but the City Government declined doing 
anything in regard to the matter. 

1825. 

From the Report of the Semi-Annual visitation of 
the Standing Committee, made by the Chairman, Mr. 
Thomas Wells, in March, 1825, we find that the num- 
ber of schools had been increased to 48, and the whole 
number of pupils was 2,686 ; and it is a singular cir- 



96 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

cumstance that, at this time, there was an equal num- 
ber of each sex in the schools, viz., 1,343 girls and 
1,343 boys. 

Mr. Wells was a member of the Standing Committee 
from 1820 to 1830, and was a worthy successor to Mr. 
Savage as Chairman of that body. His reports to the 
Board are characterized by a careful, but somewhat elab- 
orate, exposition of the state of the schools, — mature 
suggestions in regard to improvements, — and a faithful 
adherence to the rules and regulations of the Board. 
As an example of his earnestness in regard to the 
duties of the Committee, we present an eloquent appeal 
to them, in the concluding portion of the report from 
which the preceding statistics are obtained ; the interest 
in which will undoubtedly be increased, from the appre- 
ciatino; record of the valuable services of one of his 
associate members, who was well known and beloved as 
a Christian pastor, and whose memory is still endeared 
to many now among us: — 

^ By the appointment of Providence, we have been placed in 
a situation in which we are enabled to act an influential part. 
We have it in our power to produce some effect upon the 
character and hopes of society. By the wisdom and prudence 
of our ancestors, we are in the possession of the institutions 
of civil and religious liberty. To these institutions we are 
indebted for all that we have. They rest on the broad basis 
of universal intelligence. To preserve this basis firm and 
unbroken is a duty that, in some degree, has devolved upon 
us. Let it not be the reproach of this generation, that they 
were so much occupied in the enjoyment of blessings obtained 
by the labors and the sacrifices of their ancestors, that they 
could not find time to preserve them for the benefit of their 



ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 97 

children. Let it uot be the reproach of any individual at this 
Board that he lingered at the very threshold of duty, and 
gave an unwilling aid to the maintenance of these institutions, 
which are at once the glory and happiness of our land. 

We do not make these remarks under an impression that 
they are particularly called for at this time. On the con- 
trary, we have been much gratified with the attention which 
has generally been paid to the schools by the district com- 
mittees ; and were it not for an invidious distinction which it 
does not belong to us to make, we could point to individuals 
whose zeal and fidelity have excited within us feelings of 
admiration and gratitude. 

In making this remark, we are forcibly reminded of the 
loss that our own number is about to sustain in one who has 
probably contributed as much as any individual towards ad- 
vancing the schools to their present prosperous condition. 
The Rev. Mr. Wisner, having been elected to the Board of 
the General School Committee, will necessarily relinquish the 
connection that he has long held with us. We should feel 
deep regret for this loss, were it not attended with the knowl- 
edge that his labors will still be continued in another part of 
the great vineyard, in which we are employed, and where his 
experience, — his well-tried fidelity and discretion, — will be 
particularly useful. 

It appears from this report, that, at this period, it was 
not customary for members of the Primary School Com- 
mittee to hold any other office in the City Government. 
The resignation of Mr. Savage was caused by his elec- 
tion to the Grammar Board ; and from Mr. Wells's allu- 
sion to Mr. Wisner, it is evident that the members of 
the Primary Board were considered City officers, and 
as such, the holding of any other office was regarded 
as incomnatible with the City Charter. 

13 



98 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

We notice another peculiarity in the early history 
of the Board, and which continued as late as 1838, that 
on the election of any one as a member of the Stand- 
ing Committee, it was usual for him to be relieved from 
the supervision of any particular school ; and, in most 
cases, another was elected to his school by the Board. 
There does not appear to have been any rule of the 
Board requiring this, but it would seem to have been 
at the option of the individual, after he was chosen to 
the Standing Committee, whether he would continue to 
act as a local committee or not. The same privilege 
appears to have been extended to the President and 
Secretary of the Board. From 1830, this custom began 
to be discontinued, and in 1839, all the officers, includ- 
ing the Standing Committee, had special charge of 
particular schools. 

At the Semi- Annual examination in October, 1825, 
the number of schools had been increased to 50, and 
the number of scholars to 2,716. In making this ex- 
amination, the committees were required to report " the 
number of truants and j^rofane scholars, and also the 
mode of punishment practised by the instructors." In 
regard to the latter, the Standing Committee, in their 
report, judiciously observe, " In our investigation as to 
the nature and degree of punishment practised in the 
schools, we were under the impression that too much 
variety existed in these respects, and that much of the 
inequality in the character of the schools was attribu- 
table to this. It is obvious that but little advance in 
education can be exjDected unless order is preserved, 
and that order can only be the effect of judicious dis- 
cipline. We have not found so great diversity in the 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS 99 

manner as we expected, but much more in the degree. 
It appears certain that, in most of the schools, order has 
not been preserved without some exercise of timely 
severity ; yet it is equally certain that it has not been 
improved by the system of unremitting and indiscrimi- 
nate rigor as practised in several of them; and we 
believe that much more depends upon good judgment, 
and decision in the application, than in the severity of 
the punishment. We have found some instructors con- 
trolling their schools without apparent effort, while 
others were perpetually occupied in such violent en- 
deavors to produce order, as to utterly fail in their 
object. This is a subject of primary importance, and 
is commended to the attention of every member of the 
Board." 

On the morning of Thursday, November 10, 1825, 
a large and destructive fire occurred in Court street, 
by which the office of James Savage, Esq., was de- 
stroyed. From the long connection of Mr. Savage 
with the Board as Secretary, and as Chairman of the 
Standing Committee, the meetings of which had been 
usually held at his office, most of the records, reports 
and papers of the Committee, together with many 
valuable documents relating to the early history of 
the Primary Schools, were consumed. In consequence 
of this severe loss, a special meeting of the Standing 
Committee was held on Friday evening, November 18, 
at the house of Moses Grant, Esq., the Secretary, at 
which it was Voted, To call a meeting of the whole 
Board in reference to the subject. The meeting of 
the Board was held in conformity with this vote, 
and " Messrs. Blanchard, Wells, Pray, and W. T, 



100 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Andrews, the Secretary of the Board, were appointed 
a Committee to consider the subject, and to provide 
new blanks in the place of those consumed in the 
late fire in Court street." 

With this record closes one epoch in the history 
of the Primary Schools ; and if it should be thought 
that we have devoted more time and space to the 
details than were necessary, we would only refer to 
the fact, that of this period, the most important and 
interesting in our history, no complete record exists ; 
and as the original members of the Board are " pass- 
ing away," our means of information will become 
more and more limited, and the loose material from 
which we have gleaned, may soon be scattered, if not 
destroyed. 

1826. 

On the loth of January a communication was re- 
ceived from the Secretary of the Grammar School 
Committee, notifying the Primary Board of the gen- 
tlemen who had been appointed to have charge of 
the Primary Schools for the ensuing year. 

On the 16th of January, the quarterly meeting was 
held, and the following officers elected : 

Chairman — Moses Grant. 

Secretary — Willl\m T. Andrews. 

Standing Committee — Thomas Wells, Chairman. Moses 
Grant, Secretary. J. P. Osgood, Daniel Noyes, Wm. J. 
Spooner, J. P Blanchard, Enoch Hale. 

A vote was passed to divide District No. 7, so as 
to form a new District of the schools at South Bos- 
ton, to be called District No. 8; and Deacon Wm. 



ANNALS OP THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 101 

Brown was added to the Standing Committee to fill 
the place made necessary by the creation of a new 
District. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, May 
16th, a letter was read from Rev. Mr. Pierpont, Secre- 
tary of the Grammar School Committee, on the sub- 
ject " of giving children in the Primary Schools, who 
are most advanced, some instruction in the elements 
of Arithmetic, previous and preparatory to their ad- 
mission to the Public Grammar Schools," and stating 
that " Messrs. Pierpont, Blaisdell and Eaton were 
appointed a Committee to confer with the Primary 
School Committee on the subject." Messrs. Wells, 
Blanchard and Grant were appointed to confer with 
the above-named gentlemen, and upon their rejcjit 
the subject was presented to the Board at the quarterly 
meeting in July, who placed the whole matter, together 
with the selection of a text-book, in the hands of a 
Committee to report at the next quarterly meeting. 
In October, the Committee accordingly reported in 
favor of the measure, and recommended as a book 
to commence with, "Primary Lessons in Arithmetic, 
by Frederic Emerson;" which report and recommend- 
ation were adopted, and the several District Committees 
were directed to have the same introduced into the 
first classes of their schools. A Resolution was also 
adopted, prohibiting the teachers from allowing the 
distribution of any tracts or other publications in 
their schools, without the permission of the District 
Committee. 

In conformity with a new law of the Legislature, 
requiring ofi&cial returns of all the children in the 



102 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

schools, between 4 and 16 years of age, the follow- 
ing returns of the Primary Schools were made by 
the Standing Committee to the City Government : 

Whole number of Schools, divided into 8 Districts, 51 
" " children belonging, . . 2,805 

" " girls under 7 years of age, . 1,229 

" " " over 7 years of age, . 146 

" " boys under 7 years of age, . 1,310 

'^ " " over 7 years of age, . 120 

In adaition to this number, 647 pupils had been 

qualified for, and entered, the Grammar Schools du^ng 

the year. 

1827. 

January 16. The Committee having been appointed 
by the Grammar Board, proceeded to organize them- 
selves by the choice of 

Chairman — Moses Grant. 

Secretary — William T. Andrews. 

Standing Committee — Thomas Wells, Chairman. Moses 
Grant, Secretary. J. P. Spooner, J. P. Blanchard, Lemuel 
Capen, Benj. B. Wisner, Joseph Tuckerman, William 
Russell. 

On motion of Rev. Dr. Tuckerman, a Committee of 
three was appointed to inquire whether by law " chil- 
dren of any and what age are excluded from the Pub- 
lic Schools of this city ; and if so, whether any meas- 
ures can be adopted for their instruction." On the 
17th of April, Dr. Tuckerman, Chairman of the Com- 
mittee, made an interesting report, accompanied by 
a Resolution, requesting the Grammar School Commit- 



ANNALS OF THE PRMARY SCHOOLS. 103 

tee to reconsider the subject, of " providing means of 
instruction for those children who are excluded from 
the existing schools." The report was accepted, and 
the same Committee were instructed to represent the 
subject to the General School Committee, agreeably 
to the report and resolution. 

The subject of Sewing having been again urged 
upon the attention of the Board, in the report of the' 
Standing Committee, a vote was ^^assed that the Com- 
mittees of the several Districts^ be requested, forthwith, 
to take measures for the establishment in their District 
of one or more schools for instruction in Sewing, on 
Thursday and Saturday afternoons, and that the Secre- 
tary be directed to send a copy of this vote to the 
Chairman o-r Secretary of each District. In compli- 
ance with this vote, a number of schools for Sewing 
were formed in the several Districts, with good effect ; 
particularly was this the case in the Broad street Dis- 
trict No. 6, in which the attendance of the children 
was very regular, and their improvement was such 
as to gratify the desires of the Committee. 

In October, 1826, the Standing Committee suggested 
to the Board, the expediency of introducing something 
of the plan of Monitorial Instruction into the Primary 
Schools, and their suggestions were referred to a Sub- 
Committee, consisting of Messrs. Blanchard, Pray and 
Spooner, to consider and report ; this Committee, on 
the 17th April, 1827, presented a detailed report and 
plan, which was printed and referred to a subsequent 
meeting. May 10th, when the plan recommended by 
them was again referred to a Committee of twelve, 
who were directed to make such experiments of the 



104 ANNALS OF THE PREMARY SCHOOLS. 

plan as they should deem expedient. Accordingly, 
this Committee proceeded to introduce the plan of 
Mutual Instruction into one school in each District, 
and the result was so favorable, that in their report pre- 
sented to the Board on the 22d of January, 1828, they 
recommended a continuance of the experiment in the 
schools which had already been placed under that sys- 
*tem, and the authorizing of the several District Com- 
mittees to introduce it as they should deem best, into 
their schools. The Board accepted the report, and 
authorized the District Committees, in conformity with 
the recommendation. 

Towards the close of the year 1827, the public mind 
was considerably excited in regard to the Small Pox ; 
and at the quarterly meeting of the School Committee, 
held at the office of the Mayor, on Tuesday, November 
13, 1827, the following Preamble and Order was passed: 

Whereas, great apprehensions were entertained, in the 
early part of this year, of the spreading of contagion by 
Small Pox, and the cities of New York and Philadelphia, and 
others with which the commercial intercourse of our citizens 
is very frequent, are often subject to that evil, and whereas 
the best security against contagion of that loathsome and 
deadly disease is furnished by a diffusion of the mild remedy 
of cow pock through the community, and the City Govern- 
ment have adopted measures for the universal extension 
of this benefit, without expense, to all such persons as would 
feel an inconvenience in paying the usual fees, and the remedy 
may most satisfactorily be obtained by children ; 

It is therefore Ordered by the School Committee, that after 
March next the instructors of all the Public Schools in this 
city be directed to ascertain by probable evidence that every 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 105 

child, who is offered for admission at any of said schools, 
shall have been secured from contagion of the Small Pox ; 
and no child, not so secured, shall be received at any such 
school, unless on return from the master the School Com- 
mittee shall order such child to be received. 

This action of the Grammar Board was communicated 
by the following courteous letter from the Secretary : 

Moses Grant, Esq., Chairman of Committee for Primary Schools: 
Dear Sir, — In communicating the within order of the 
School Committee to you, as Chairman of the Committee 
for providing instruction for children between four and 
seven years of age, I feel great pleasure, because the efficacy 
of the measures adopted will be so materially dependent 
on the faithful services of your Board. These services never 
fail. It will be most easy, before granting any certificate 
for admission to a Primary School, for the member of the 
Committee to ascertain that the child, in whose favor the 
desire is made, has been secured by the Cow Pock ; or if 
not, to obtain a certificate from any member of the City 
Council, or Overseer of the Poor, to secure the services, 
gratuitously, of any physician, if the parent or guardian 
7ieed such favor. 

The devastation which this last year has been extended 
by the Small Pox at Halifax, and the loss of above one hun- 
dred a year, for the last two years, in each of the cities of 
New York and Philadelphia, and the occasional advances 
in various directions in smaller towns, not to mention our 
own loss of two or three, must put us on our guard. 
With highest regard, yours, 
Boston, M Dec, \%2']. James Savage. 

The foregoing communications, having been pre- 
sented at the quarterly meeting of the Primary School 
Committee, Jan. 5, 1827, it was voted, that, 

14 



106 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Whereas, a communication has been received bj this Board 
of an order of the General School Committee relating to the 
important subject of requiring the protection of the cow 
pock inoculation for the children in the schools under our 
care, and we are deeply conscious of the importance of such 
a measure, and anxious to give our cooperation towards 
carrying it into effect, — 

Therefore, Voted, That it be considered the duty of each 
member having the charge of a school to see that the order 
of the School Committee, respecting the admission of children 
into our schools not protected by the kine pock inoculation 
or otherwise from the contagion of the small pox, be carried 
strictly into effect; and that they be earnestly requested to 
interest themselves to see this protection extended to all 
those who are now members of the schools, who may not be 
thus protected. 

Voted, That the district committees be requested to obtain 
the assistance of some physician for this purpose, it being 
understood that all the physicians have offered their gra- 
tuitous services in such cases, where necessary. 

Voted, That to every certificate or order for admission 
furnished to children applying for admission to the schools 
after the above order shall take effect, shall be added the 
words '• said (A. B.) being secured from being subject to the 
small pox." 

Voted, That the above votes, with the order of the School 
Committee, be printed, and a copy of the same distributed to 
the members of the district committees and the instructors of 
the several schools. 

By the subsequent action of the City Council, Feb. 4, 
" any member of the School Committee, and of the 
Primary School Committee, is authorized to issue cer- 
tificates to any member of the Boston Medical Asso- 
ciation, to enable any inhabitant of Boston to enjoy the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 107 

advantage of gratuitous vaccination, for him or herself, 
or his or her child, in the form, and of the import, 
specified in the resolve of the City Council, passed 
March 12, 1827." 

1828. 

Jan. 15. The following officers were elected : — 

Chairman — Moses Grant. 

Secretary — William T. Andrews. 

Standing Committee — Thomas Wells, Chairman ; Moses 
Grant, Secretary ; Joseph Tuckerman, B. B. Wisner, J. 
P. Blanchard, John P. Spooner, Lemuel Capen, Sebastian 
Streeter. 

Monitorial instruction having been introduced with 
considerable success into several of the Primary Schools, 
in conformity with the recommendation of the Board, 
the subject was regarded with such favor by the Gram- 
mar School Committee that a sub-committee of that 
body reported, " that, in their opinion, the number of 
schools could be reduced, and much advantage derived, 
from reorganizing all the Primary Schools upon that 
plan. This report was accepted, and the recommenda- 
tion of the Committee was referred to a sub-committee, 
as exjDressed in the following vote : — 

In School Committee, Feb. 21, 1828. 
Voted, That the Mayor, Messrs. Savage, Armstrong, Fowle, 
Barrett, Adams and Farnsworth be a Sub-Committee, with 
authority to communicate to the Primary School Committee 
the views contained in the preceding Report, and in con- 
junction with that Committee, to devise such modifications 
of the present system of those schools as shall be deemed 
expedient and practicable, and lay the same before the Board 
for its consideration and sanction. 



108 ANNALS OF THE PRBIART SCHOOLS. 

This vote was communicated to the Secretary of the 
Primary Board, in a note from the Mayor, as follows : — ^ 

Bosto7i, Feb. 26, 1828. 

Sir: — I have the honor to enclose a vote passed by the 
School Committee of the City of Boston, appointing a Com- 
mittee on the subject therein expressed. 

I am directed to request that a meeting of the Primary 
School Committee may be called, for the purpose of appoint- 
ing a Sub-Committee, to meet, discuss and arrange with the 
said Sub-Committee of the School Committee the subjects 
specified in the above vote. 

The Report alluded to in the vote will be ready to be 
delivered to the members of the Primary School Committee 
to-morrow, and a sufficient number of copies will be delivered 
to you for the purpose of distribution. 

Respectfully, I am your humble servant, 

JOSIAE QUINCY, 
Mayor and Chairman of School Committee. 
W. T. Andrews, Esq., 
Secretarrj Primary School Committee. 

P. S. — The Sub-Committee of the School Committee will 
meet the Committee of Primary Schools at any time they may 
appoint. 

A meeting of the Primary Board was accordingly 
held on the evening of March 3, at which Messrs. Moses 
Grant, Thomas Wells, Gerry Fairbanks, Geo. B. Emer- 
son and Dr. Chandler Bobbins were appointed a Com- 
mittee of Conference on the subject proposed. 

At a meeting of the Sub-Committees on the 11th of 
March, the representatives of the Primary Board urged 
as preliminary to any action, the necessity of suitable 
school-rooms being provided by the city ; inasmuch as 



ANNALS OP THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 109 

the rooms now furnished by the teachers were, many of 
them, not adapted to their object, — often too small, 
badly ventilated, crowded, and, in consequence, un- 
healthy and unpropitious for discipline ; that the dif- 
ficulty of obtaining even these rooms was already very 
great, aiid this difficulty would be much increased by 
the adoption of the system of Mutual Instruction ; by 
which it was proposed to have rooms of sufficient size 
for 80 to 100 children, to be under the charge of one 
teacher. That the school-rooms should be provided 
directly by the city was also evident, from the fact 
that the present arrangement operates very unequally, 
and with great injustice, upon some of the teachers, 
because, while the compensation of all of them is the 
same ($250 per annum), the rent they are obliged to 
pay for rooms in suitable locations varies, in different 
parts of the city, from $40 to $80. If this difficulty 
could be obviated, and the school-rooms located so as 
to be convenient for the children to attend, and the 
number of scholars in each school continue to be regu- 
lated according to the judgment of the Primary Board, 
and the change in the system gradually introduced, the 
Sub-Committee expressed their opinion that the modifi- 
cation proposed by the Grammar School Committee 
might be advantageously made ; and, as the teachers 
would be relieved from the rent of their rooms, their 
annual salaries could properly be reduced to $200. 

The Sub-Committee of the Grammar Board acknowl- 
edged the propriety of these considerations, and ex- 
pressed their entire concurrence in these views ; and, on 
the 14th of March, the report of the Sub-Committee 
was made to the Primary Board, accompanied by a 



110 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

series of resolutions in favor of the plan. The report 
and resolutions elicited a long discussion, which con- 
tinued,, by adjournment, through several evenings, dur- 
ing which strong doubts were expressed as to the 
propriety of any action, until the result of the apphca- 
tion of the Board respecting school rooms was ascer- 
tained. This and other reasons, adverse to the project, 
derived from the experience of the Committee, caused 
the Board to finally vote an indefinite postponement of 
the whole subject. 

The subject having been thus disposed of, renewed 
efforts were made to induce the City Government to 
make provision for school-rooms; and on the 15th of 
March, a Committee, consisting of Moses Grant, Thomas 
"Wells, and Rev. Dr. Joseph Tuckerman, presented a 
memorial to the City Council, '' respectfully representing 
the serious evils, and bad consequences, resulting from 
the want of suitable rooms in various parts of the city 
for the accommodation of the Primary Schools, and 
praying that some measures may be adopted to remedy 
the evils." 

This memorial was referred, March 31, to a Com- 
mittee of the City Council, which, on the 14th of July, 
reported, " That, having examined into the subject, they 
are satisfied that it is for the interest of the city to pro- 
vide school-rooms for the Primary Schools ; and that, as 
they have heretofore been provided by the school- 
mistresses, a proportionate deduction should be made 
from their salaries on that account. They find by a 
report made to them by the Primary School Committee, 
that the present whole number of these schools is 57 ; 
the annual rent paid for which is $2,673, and that the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Ill 

average rate of rent is $47; but that of all these, only 
24 of the rooms are deemed satisfactory." The Com- 
mittee concluded their report by offering the following 
resolution, which was passed : — 

Resolved, That the School Committee be, and they are 
hereby authorized to cause to be hired a suitable number of 
school-rooms, in such locations and of such size as, after 
consultation with the Primary School Committee, shall be 
deemed expedient, and for a term not exceeding ten years ; 
and that for this purpose they be, and hereby are, authorized 
to draw upon the appropriation for the Primary Schools, an 
amount not exceeding in the whole for the rent of all such 
school-rooms, the sum of $2,700, it being understood that, in 
consideration of the instructresses being relieved from the 
expense of finding school-rooms, a deduction of $50 be made 
on that account from their respective salaries. 

This action of the City Government relieved many 
of the members of the Primary Board of the personal 
responsibility they had been obliged to assume to ob- 
tain proper rooms for their schools ; but it is singular 
that, w^th a knowledge of the difficulty and expense of 
obtaining rooms in suitable locations, and that 24 of 
the 57 school-rooms were entirely unfit for the pur- 
pose, the City Council should have made an appropria- 
tion of less than $48 for each school, which, in the 
aggregate, was $150 less than they withdrew from the 
salaries of the teachers, on this account. It is not sur- 
prising, therefore, that with these limited means, the 
various attempts made by the sub-committees of the 
Primary Board to procure suitable rooms should have 
been attended with but partial success. 



112 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Ten years having now elapsed since the establish- 
ment of the Primary Schools, we believe it will be 
interesting to present some facts in relation to their 
condition, operation and increase at the close of that 
time. This we are gratified in being able to do, in 
the form of a letter from the Chairman of the Stand- 
ing Committee to the Secretary of the Grammar 
School Board, in answer to a note from the latter, 
requesting information to enable him to make the 
school return required by the State: 

Boston, May 20, 1828. 
James Bowdoin, Esq., Secretary of School Committee: 

Dear Sir, — In compliance with the request contained m 
your communication to the Secretary of the Primary School 
Committee, the Standing Committee of that Board respect- 
fully communicate to you the following brief particulars 
respecting the state of the Primary Schools, as they existed 
for the period of one year, prior to the first of April of 
the present year, as taken from the Standing Committee's 
Reports of their Semi-Annual Examinations up to that time. 
This being the most recent authentic information that we 
have it m our power to furnish from existing documents, 
we hope it may answer the required purpose, as well as 
though it extended up to a month later. 

On March 31, 1827, there were 8 Districts, 53 Schools, 
1,456 males, 1,566 females. Total, 3,022; average to a 
school, 57. 

On September 30, 1827, there were 8 Districts, 56 Schools, 
1,606 males, 1,630 females. Total, 3,236; average to a 
school, 58 

On March 31, 1828, there were 8 Districts, 57 Schools, 
1,656 males, 1,698 females. Total, 3,354; average to a 
school, 59. With one female teacher to each school, mak- 
ing 57 teachers. 



ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 113 

During this period, 622 qualified pupils have been removed 
by the Committee, with recommendations to the Grammar 
Schools, besides those who have left without such recommend- 
ations, or who have removed elsewhere ; whose number it is 
not in our power to ascertain exactly, but we think ourselves 
safe in assuming 10 to each school that was in operation 
at the commencement of the year, making the total of 530 ; 
which, added to the numbers now in the schools, and the 
numbers sent to the Grammar Schools, will give an aggregate 
of 4,506 pupils, who we hope have derived benefit from the 
Primary Schools during the year. 

Respecting the aggregate number of pupils admitted, and 
distinction of those who came from other Public or Primary 
Schools, it is not easy to determine; for, although in each 
school a Record is kept of the admissions and removals, yet 
it does not, nor cannot always explain whence they come 
or whither they go. We estimate, however, that about 1,500 
pupils who did not before belong to the Public School 
establishment, have been admitted into the Primary Schools 
during the year, from April 1, 1827, to April 1, 1828. 

The average annual expense for books to each pupil we 
estimate at about 50 cents, which, on the present numbers, 
will give an aggregate of $1,677, which, added to an equita- 
ble estimate, for those who have left during the year, may 
raise the aggregate on this head to about $2,000. All other 
expenses are paid by the city. 

Yours, very respectfully, 

Thomas Wells. 

At the quarterly meeting, July 15, Mr. William T. 
Andrews resigned the office of Secretary of the Board, 
which he had discharged with great ability and satisfac- 
tion, and Mr. Frederic T. Gray was elected. 

15 



114 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Mr. J. P. Blanchard, from the Committee appointed 
at a previous meeting, reported an amendment to 
" Rule V. That two dollars shall be annually appropri- 
ated to each school for the encouragement of the chil- 
dren, and a sum proportioned to the number of schools 
in each District, shall be placed at the disposal of the 
respective District Committees, which they shall expend 
and apply as they may judge most effectual for that 
purpose." 

A communication was received from Hon. H. G. 
Otis, and fifteen others, inhabitants of Ward No. 6, 
representing that there were more than 40 children 
in their vicinity of suitable age, not provided for in 
the existing Primary Schools, and praying that a new 
school may be established. The subject was referred 
to the Committee of District No. 4, with authority 
to establish a new school as soon as 40 children are 
found of suitable age. 

October 21. Eev. Messrs. Wisner and Tuckerjvian 
having resigned as members of the Standing Com- 
mittee, Messrs. Gerry Fairbanks and Francis Jackson 
were elected to the vacancies ; and it was " Voiedf 
That the thanks of this Board be presented to Messrs. 
Wisner and Tuckerman for their valuable services." 

It was also "Voted, That Messrs. Parkman, Hatch 
and Robbins be a Committee to take into consideration 
the subject of supplying vacancies that may occur in 
the Standing Committee." 



ANNALS OP THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 115 

1829. 

Janu.vry 20. The officers elected were as follows : 

Chaiman — Moses Grant. 

Secf'eta^y — Frederic T. Gray. 

Standing Committee — Thomas Wells, Chairman. Moses 
Grant, Secretary. Lemuel Capen, J. P. Blanchard, John 
P. Spooner, John P. Bigelow, Francis Parkman, Gerry 
Fairbanks. 

The Committee appointed last October, on the sub- 
ject of vacancies in the Standing Committee, reported 
" That it was expedient to amend the Rules, so as to 
authorize the Standing Committee to select candidates 
to fill any vacancies which may occur in their num- 
ber;" which report was unanimously accepted. At 
the meeting, Dr. Davis and Messrs. Gray and Wells 
were appointed a Special Committee "to prepare 
and have printed a correct table of the organization 
of the Primary Schools ; to procure a suitable num- 
ber of copies of the Rules and Regulations, as they 
now exist; to furnish each member with two copies 
of the same; to have printed such blanks as may 
be necessary, and to cause the table above referred 
to to be published in several of the newspapers of 
this city." 

April 21. Rev. Mellish I. Motte was elected on the 
Standing Committee, in place of Gerry Fairbanks, 
Esq., resigned. The Semi-Annual Report of the Stand- 
ing Committee, giving a statement of the several 
schools, drawn up with great care, and presenting a 
detailed account of the several Districts, was read 
by the Chairman, Mr. Wells, and accepted. 



116 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

In addition to the circumstances usually attended 
to in the Semi-Annual Examinations, the Standing 
Committee were particular in their inquiries i elating 
to some objects especially occupying the attention 
of the Board. 

In regard to the character of the rooms, on which a petition 
from the Board is now before the city, it is ascertained that 
of 57 schools examined, about 28 are held in rather commo- 
dious rooms, and 29 in those which are poor and inadequate. 
Of the 28 good ones, however, there are but about one-third 
which are of large size. 

Of 12 schools now taught on the Monitorial System, none 
are reported as having decidedly deteriorated since its adop- 
tion; some are represented a§ improved under it, and others 
are represented as doubtful, or equal to their former state. 

Tuition in Needlework is yet strictly maintained in some 
Districts, but in general this branch of education has fallen 
into decline. 

By Section 3, Rule 8, the several District Committees will 
soon be called upon to discharge a very important duty, viz. : 
on the week preceding the May vacation, to elect the in- 
structors for their respective schools, and report the same to 
the Standing Committee within ten days. The utility of this 
rule is apparent, and affords an opportunity for the District 
Committee to suspend a choice, or elect on a limited term 
such instructors as do not advance their schools to that rank 
which is so generally attained. 

The Committee on School-rooms, which was appointed 
to carry into effect the vote of the City Council, July 
14, 1828, reported, "that they had attended to the 
duties assigned them, and had done all that lay in their 
power to procure suitable rooms, but as some other 
course appeared to them necessary, they begged to 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 117 

be discharged from further duty." The report was 
accepted, and the request granted. 

After some discussion upon the want and necessity 
of school-rooms, it was ^^ Voted, That a Committee of 
five be appointed to memoriahze the City Council 
and School Committee, that school-rooms should be 
purchased or built on account of the city, in places 
where they cannot be now obtained on leases of suit- 
able character or location." Messrs. J. P. Blanchard, 
John P. Bigelow, Dr. McKean, Dr. C. Bobbins, and 
John Gulliver were chosen on this Committee. 

Considerable discussion having ensued upon a motion 
to change the hour of commencing the schools in the 
afternoon, it was finally ^^ Voted, That the District 
Committees have permission, during the months of 
May, June, July and August, to commence their 
schools at 2 or 3 o'clock, and keep three hours." The 
necessity of uniformity in the conducting of all the 
schools being apparent to the Committee, this per- 
mission does not seem to have been acted upon by 
the District Committees. 

July 21. Mr. George B. Emerson, Chairman of a 
Committee on the subject of appropriations for Re- 
wards, made a verbal report, recommending that the 
money be appropriated in all the districts to the 
establishment of small libraries for the use of meri- 
torious scholars. 

The Committee on Rooms reported, "That they 
had addressed a letter to the City Council, but no 
answer had yet been received." 

October 20. At the regular quarterly meeting, 
Mr. Geo. A. Sampson, of the Committee appointed at 



118 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

the last meeting, to consider the expediency of amend- 
ing Eule 8, Section IV., made a report, recommending 
that the schools shall hereafter be kept on Thursday 
afternoon, and a recess be allowed on Wednesday 
afternoon, in order to conform to a similar change 
recently introduced into the Grammar Schools." The 
report was accepted, and the change ordered to be 
made after the first of November next. 

This change had been recommended by the Stand- 
ing Committee, and adopted by a vote of the Pri- 
mary Board, in August, 1823 ; but in consequence 
of the propriety of having a uniform rule in this 
respect for all the public schools, and the Grammar 
Board objecting to make the change at that time, 
the Primary Board deferred any action on their vote, 
until the change had been made in the Grammar 
Schools. 

Messrs. Lincoln and Edmands having informed the 
Board that they had lately published an improved 
edition of "Emerson's First Lessons in Arithmetic," 
and requested that it be introduced into the schools, 
in place of the one now in use, it was '''Voted, That 
this subject be referred to the Standing Committee, 
with power to act thereon, as they may judge 
expedient." 

The Semi-Annual Report of the Standing Commit- 
tee, giving the results of their last examinations, was 
presented by Mr. John P. Bigelow. After a lliithful 
exposition of the state of the schools, Mr. Bigelow 
concludes his report with the following judicious 
remarks. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 119 

The Standing Committee have thus endeavored to present 
an accurate, though succinct, view of the situation of the 
Primary Schools. In doing so, they regret exceedingly the 
necessity of speaking, as they have done, with some severity, 
in relation to the management and condition of a few of the 
individual schools. They are satisfied, however, that most of 
the evils which they have noticed are not of so deep a char- 
acter but that they may be thoroughly corrected by a little 
wholesome advice and caution to the teachers, and by a little 
more attention in some of the districts on the part of the 
gentlemen who compose the local committees. The cause in 
which we are engaged is a good^ and it may almost be said to 
be a holy one. By earnest, untiring, and disinterested efforts 
in this cause by our predecessors, immense benefits have re- 
dounded to the community in which we live. Let us be care- 
ful, then, that the institution shall not essentially deteriorate 
nor languish while under our own auspices; and may we re- 
double our diligence and watchfulness under the unerring con- 
viction that, in advancing the cause of education, we are 
promoting, by the surest methods, the greatest and best in- 
terests of our country and our religion. 

Mr. J. P. Blanchard, Chairman of the Committee ap- 
pointed April 21, 1829, to petition the City Council to 
erect suitable School-rooms at the expense of the city, 
read a copy of a petition, which had been presented to 
that body, which he submitted as a report of progress, 
and for information. At a special meeting of the 
Board, Nov. 18, " the Report of the Committee on 
Rules and Regulations was taken up, acted upon by 
sections, and, after some amendments, was accepted, and 
ordered to be printed for the use of the Board." 

Dec. 29, 1829, the Standing Committee held a special 
meeting to act upon the subject of introducing the 



120 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

"North American Arithmetic," referred to them, and 
after due consideration, directed Mr. J. P. Blanchard to 
report the following resolution to the Board : — 

Resolved, That the " North American Arithmetic " be sub- 
stituted for the " Primary Lessons " in all cases where new 
books are wanted ; and with all, as soon as they can be ob- 
tained without inconvenient expense to the parent. 

It was also 

Voted, That Mr. Grant and Dr. McKean be a Committee to 
see that a regular and correct list of all the members who 
intend to serve another year be presented to the Grammar 
School Committee for their consideration and appointment. 

1830„ 

Jan. 19. The Secretary of the School Committee 
having informed the Board of their reappointment, they 
proceeded to organize themselves by the choice of the 
following officers: — 

Chairman — Moses Grant. 

Secretary/ — Frederic T. Gray. 

Standing Committee — Francis Parkman, Chairman ; 
Lewis G. Pray, Secretary; Joshua P. Blanchard, John P. 
Spooner, Lemuel Capen, John P. Bigelow, Chandler 
Bobbins, and Joseph W. McKean. 

Dr. Spooner, of the Standing Committee, read the 
Semi-Annual Eeport, drawn from the returns of the 
District Committees, which was unanimously accepted. 
From this we learn that there were 57 schools, to which 
there were 3,583 pupils belonging, viz., 1,757 girls, 
1,816 boys ; and in addition, 1,031 had been qualified, 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 121 

and left for the Grammar Schools, during the past six 
months. The number of visits, or examinations, by the 
Committees was 277, which is nearly an average of 
five to each school. The report closes with the following 
deserved tribute to the memory of two of the early 
and faithful friends of the Primary Schools : — 

It is with much regret that it becomes our duty to notice 
the loss -which the Board has sustained in the death of Mr. 
Thomas Wells and Mr. Gerry Fairbanks. Mr. Fairbanks 
■was for many years previous to his death connected with 
this Board. We lament his loss, for his sober judgment, his 
influence in society, and his interest in everything which 
served to improve the character of the community, and estab- 
lish on a firm basis our republican institutions, rendered him 
a very important member of this Committee. 

Mr. Wells has been connected with this Board almost 
ever since the establishment of the schools in 1818; and for 
several years has acted as the Chairman of the Standing 
Committee, which office he held at the time of his decease. 
He was a man of whom it can be truly said, — He was 
scrupulously faithful to every trust committed to him. All 
who were acquainted with him in connection with our 
schools, knew the deep interest which he felt in their wel- 
fare; and there is no one among us who gave to those 
schools more thought, and time, and labor than he did. He 
has left behind. him too many evidences of his usefulness to 
stand in need of our praises. We feel that more than we 
can give is due to his memory, and we offer thus much from 
a sincere regard to the worth of his character." 

On motion of Dr. Davis, it was 

Resolved, That it is expedient to cause the several schools 
belonging to this establishment to be provided with signs of 
sufficient size, affixed to some part of the buildings in which 

16 



122 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

such schools are respectively located, or to some conspicuous 
place in the vicinity, and that a committee be appointed to 
apply to the city to meet this expense. Messrs. Davis, 
Hatch, and Blanchard were appointed the Committee, and 
they reported at the next meeting, April 20, that they had 
attended to the duty, and had caused the signs to be affixed 
to all the schools except those in District 8 (South Boston). 
Upon which the thanks of the Board were voted to this 
Committee for the very prompt and satisfactory manner in 
which they have discharged their duties. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, Feb. 9, 
Rev. Francis Parkman was chosen Chairman, and Mr. 
J. P. Blanchard, Secretary of the Committee. Mr. 
Blanchard declining this office, Mr. Leavis G. Pray was 
chosen in his place. 

Mr. MosES Grant having performed the arduous 
duties of Secretary of the Standing Committee from 
1820, and the duties of Chairman of the Board 
from 1825, resigned the former office at this time ; but 
the Committee, being desirous of retaining his valuable 
experience in their body, " Voted, That the Chairman 
and Secretary of the whole Board be requested to attend 
the meetings of the Standing Committee, and aid the 
members in the discharge of their various duties by 
their experience and advice ; and the Secretary is 
hereby directed to notify said officers of the meetings 
of the Committee." 

At the quarterly meeting of the Board, Rev. Mr. 
Capen read the Semi-Annual Report of the Standing 
Committee on the state of the schools, which were 
represented as being generally in a flourishing condi- 
tion. But the Committee regretted to find, "that in 
many schools, there appeared to be a disposition in the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 123 

instructors to bring forward the upper classes in 
branches not prescribed in the Rules and Regulations. 
Exercises in geometry, geography, and natural phil- 
osophy have been introduced, to the manifest neglect 
of what, in a ^primary school, should be considered of 
frimarij importance, viz., correct reading and thorough 
spelling. Another evil of great magnitude has also 
resulted from this procedure; that many instructors, 
emulous to advance the children under their care to 
a higher rank than those in other schools, have greatly 
exceeded the regular school hours, to the manifest 
injury of the health and constitutions of the children." 
For these reasons the following resolution was offered 
by the Standing Committee to the Board : 

Resohed, That the instructors in the several schools be 
forthwith directed to conform strictly to the hours for be- 
ginning and closing the schools, specified in the Rules and 
Regulations of the Primary Schools ; and also to the course 
of instruction there laid down for the several classes of 
children under their care. 

The Report of the Committee was accepted ; the 
resolution was unanimously adopted, ordered to be 
printed, and a copy to be distributed to each of the 
Committee, and teachers connected with the Board. 

This is a marked instance of the ever- watchful care 
exercised by the Standing Committee, whose prompt 
and timely warnings tended so often to guard the 
schools from impulsive innovations, and confine ele- 
mentary education to its legitimate and proper sphere. 

Among other benevolent enterprises which were con- 
nected with public education, " Infant Schools " had 
occupied considerable attention, and at this time were 



124 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

quite popular and successful,, under the auspices of 
societies and individuals. These schools were started 
with the laudable object of taking charge of those 
children, from two to four years of age, whose parents 
were dependent upon their daily labor; and during 
school hours to interest them in some way adapted to 
their age and capacity. To render the school attrac- 
tive, pictures and natural objects, singing, marching, 
and other exercises were introduced, which were made 
the means of imparting instruction to the pupils ; and 
it was also thought, by its friends, that the instruction 
and discipline to which the children were thus early 
subjected, would be advantageous to the Primary 
Schools. This idea of partially relieving the poor 
parents from the care of their little ones was highly 
commendable, and worthy of the kind hearts that pro- 
jected and encouraged it ; but the attempt to learn 
children of this tender age spelling lessons, and even 
lessons in arithmetic and geography, by singing them 
in concert, while marching to time, gave them a restless 
habit and a sing-song style which it was subsequently 
found almost impossible to eradicate, and caused more 
trouble to the teachers of the Primary Schools than all 
the advantage the pupils had derived from the instruc- 
tion they had received. The bad effects of these habits 
gradually became so marked, that at the quarterly 
meeting, in April, 1830, on motion of Mr. G. B. 
Emerson, it was '-VotedyThat each instructor be directed 
to ascertain, when children enter her school, whether 
they have attended any "' Infant School,' and for what 
length of time ; and if they have, to note these facts 
by placing a particular mark against their names in 
the record book of the school." 



ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 125 

For the purpose of acquiring correct information 
upon this subject, the Standing Committee passed an 
order Sept. 3, 1830, that at the Semi- Annual examina- 
tion, the several committees shall ascertain "how many 
children are from Infant Schools, and whether they 
are more forward than others of the same ao;e." In 
conformity with these instructions, the Committees re- 
ported the result of their inquiries ; and although the 
numbers varied in the different schools, yet there was 
a remarkable similarity in all the reports respecting 
the character and influence of those children who had 
been admitted from Infant Schools. The report of 
Mr. John P. Bigelow, on the schools in District No. 4, 
expresses the views and experience of the teachers, 
and of the examiners, in such a manner as to answer 
for the reports of all of them. He observes : — " With 
regard to children from ^ Infant Schools,' it is the de- 
cided opinion of every instructress in the district, who 
has had any experience on the subject, that it is better 
to receive children into the Primary Schools who have 
had no instruction whatever, than those who have 
graduated with the highest honors of the Infant Semi- 
naries. It is stated that these children are peculiarly 
restless in their habits, and are thereby the cause of 
restlessness and disorder among the other children; 
and it does not appear that their previous instruction 
renders them, in any respect, peculiarly proficient or 
forward in the studies of the Primary Schools." 

In other reports, these pupils are sjooken of as in- 
tractable and troublesome, restless from want of con- 
stant excitement, and their attention with difficulty 
fixed upon their studies. From the evidence which 
was thus obtained, the Standing Committee were satis- 



126 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

fied that " no good effect had resulted from the new 
and popular system of ' Infant Schools/ regarded as a 
means of discipline and instruction, preparatory to ad- 
mission into the Primary Schools." This Report was 
made to the Board by Dr. Chandler Robbins, and unani- 
mously accepted at the quarterly meeting, Oct. 19, 
1830. 

183L 

Jan. 18. The Board was organized by the unan- 
imous election of 

Chairman — Moses Grant. 

Secretary — Frederic T. Gray. 

Standing Committee — Rev. Francis Parkman,C%a2irwz«w; 
Mr. Lewis G. Pray, Secretary/ ; Dr. John P. Spooner, Dr. 
Joseph W. McKean, Dr. Chandler Robbins, Mr. John P. 
Bigelow, Mr. Daniel Henchman, and Rev. Samuel Capen. 

The thanks of the Board were voted to Mr. John P. 
Blanchard, for the very faithful manner in which he had 
so long discharged his duty as a member of the Stand- 
ing Committee, and Dr. Daniel Henchman was chosen 
in his place. 

A vote was passed directing the Secretary, when 
notifying gentlemen of their election as members of 
the Board, to furnish them with a correct copy of the 
Rules and Regulations, and of the organization of the 
Board. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, Jan. 10, 
the Secretary was " instructed to inform the Committee 
of District No. 5 that a complaint had been made to 
them of a violation of the Rules of the Board, by the 
instructor of School No. 3, in the use of a Catechism 



ANNALS OF THE PRLMARY SCHOOLS. 127 

not authorized by their Regulations, and by which one 
parent had been deterred from exercising his privilege 
in the school." On motion of Rev. Mr. Capen, this 
subject was ordered to be noticed in the Semi-Annual 
Report to the Board, which was made by Dr. J. P. 
Spooner, Jan. 18. This portion of the report occasioned 
considerable discussion, but the action of the Standing 
Committee was sustained, and the Secretary of the 
Board was directed to address a note to the several 
districts, requiring strict conformity to the Rules in 
regard to the books and studies authorized in the 
schools. By a subsequent vote, the Standing Com- 
mittee were requested to take into consideration an 
alteration of the " Rules " to render them more restric- 
tive in this respect. In conformity with this vote, the 
Standing Committee reported a recommendation that 
"Rule 7, Sect. 4, be made absolute by striking out 
the words ' without the permission of the District 
Committee,' and that to Rule 5, Sect. 5, be added the 
following: * provided that no publications of a sectarian 
or controversial character be admitted,' which were 
unanimously adopted by the Board April 19, 1831. 

At this meeting the resignation of Rev. Lemuel 
Capen, as a member of the Standing Committee, was 
communicated to the Board, and Mr. George B. Emer- 
son was chosen to fill the vacancy. The thanks of the 
Board w ere " presented to Mr. Capen for his able and 
faithful services, for many years, as a member of the 
Standing Committee." A. Committee of one from each 
district was appointed to consider the expediency of 
introducing instruction in vocal music into the Primary 
Schools. 



128 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, Oct. 11, 
Mr. G. B. Emerson was requested to prepare the Semi- 
Annual Report for the Board, and " was instructed to 
embody in the report, the opinion of the Standing Com- 
mittee, that it is expedient to divide the schools, so as 
to enlarge the number of districts to ten, exclusive of 
South Boston ; " and that the Rules and Regulations 
should be amended, so that it shall be the duty of the 
Standing Committee to make the Semi-Annual exami- 
nations in the months of April and October instead of 
March and September. Messrs. Emerson, McKean and 
Grant were appointed a Committee to prepare a plan 
of the proposed new districts to submit to the Board. 

The Report and plan were submitted to the Board at 
the quarterly meeting, Oct. 18, who adopted the re- 
commendation in relation to the change of time for the 
semi-annual examinations; but, after some discussion, 
deferred action upon the increase of districts until a 
subsequent meeting (Dec. 6), when it was voted to be 
"inexpedient to alter the present arrangement of the 
Primary School Districts." But, to relieve the Standing 
Committee of their onerous duties, they were " author- 
ized to nominate to the Board such, and so many, mem- 
bers of the Standing Committee as they shall deem 
necessary." 

The Committee to whom was referred the subject of 
the delinquency of members, reported, through Mr. J. 
W. Ingraham, their Chairman, " That it is expedient to 
amend the Rules, so that any member neglecting the 
required duties for three consecutive months shall be 
considered as having resigned his office, unless the 
Secretary of the district shall receive satisfactory evi- 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 129 

dence that he was prevented from attending by sick- 
ness, or absence from the city ; and the District Com- 
mittee shall proceed forthwith to nominate some person 
to fill the vacancy." This Keport was adopted, and 
ordered to be incorporated into the Rules. 

An adjourned meeting of the Board was held Dec. 6, 
1831, at which Mr. Lewis G. Pray reported "That their 
memorial to the City Government, in relation to estab- 
lishing ' Intermediate Schools,' had been for some time 
in the hands of the School Committee, and that the 
City Solicitor had been requested to give his opinion in 
relation to the power of the School Committee to estab- 
lish such schools ; and that a cojDy of the memorial had 
been placed in the hands of a member of the Common 
Council, which was awaiting the decision of the Com- 
mittee." 

A Report was read by Mr. G. B. Emerson from the 
Committee of Conference with the Grammar Board, ap- 
pointed at the last meeting, on the subject of a want 
of conformity between the Regulations of the Grammar 
and Primary School Boards, accompanied by a com- 
munication from the Secretary of the Grammar Board, 
enclosing the following votes passed by that body Nov. 
23, 1831, viz.: — 

Voted, That the rules be amended so as to read " children 
maybe admitted into the English Grammar Schools at the 
age of seven years, bringing a certificate from a Primary 
School, or having received the necessary preparatory instruc- 
tion at other schools. Their qualifications shall be ascer- 
tained by the master, &c,, as in the printed rules." 

Voted, That it is expedient that a Joint Standing Com- 
mittee of three from each of the two Boards of the School 

17 



130 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Committee, and of tlie Committee on Primary Schools, be 
annually appointed to secure the introduction and continuance 
of a uniform system of instruction in the Public Schools, and 
to confer, as occasion may arise, on subjects of common in- 
terest ; and that the first appointment of said Committee be 
made in each Board on the acceptance of this report, and 
notice thereof be reciprocally communicated by the Secretaries 
of the two Boards. These votes having been adopted, the 
Rev. Ezra S. Gannett, Alderman Henry Farnum and Rev. 
Sebastian Streeter were appointed a Standing Committee of 
Conference on the part of the Grammar Board. 

S. F. McCleary. Secretary. 

The first proposition of the School Committee, in 
relation to the admission of children in the Gram- 
mar School, was not accepted, although it was earnestly 
recommended in Mr. Emerson's report. The ground 
of objection was, that it abrogated the certificate of 
the Primary School Committee, and made the Gram- 
mar School Master the sole judge of the qualifications 
of the child. 

The second proposition was accepted, and Messrs. 
L. G. Pray, G. B. Emerson, and Samuel Howe were 
appointed the Standing Committee of Conference, 
on the part of the Primary Board. 

1832. 

At the regular quarterly meeting of the Standing 
Committee, January 10, on motion of Mr. J. P. 
Biorelow, the semi-annual returns of the Districts 
were referred to the Chairman, Rev. Dr. Parkman, 
to make an abstract, and report for the use of the 
Board. From this report it appears that on the 31st 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 131 

of December, 1831, there were 64 schools, contain- 
ing 1,759 girls and 2,010 boys — total, 3,769, being an 
average of 59 to each school. That in the course 
of six months there were 358 examinations, and 350 
visits, by the Committees, being an average of be- 
tween five and six examinations to each school. In 
regard to the introduction of new experimental studies 
into some of the schools, or the change of school 
books, as suggested in several of the District reports, 
the Standing Committee observe, " that all such im- 
provements, whatever their value, can only be properly 
introduced as a part of a general system, and with 
the consent and approbation of the whole Board. 
Uniformity in the system of studies and instruction 
is supposed by the very establishment of our Board, 
and is essential, not less to the order of the schools 
themselves, than to the public confidence in them. 
The faithful examination of the schools, which is the 
most important duty of the District and Standing 
Committee, absolutely requires the strictest uniform- 
ill/ ; without it it is impossible to form any just or 
satisfactory comparison of their condition or progress. 
Parents and the whole community, moreover, have a 
right to know what is to be taught ; nor can the 
general confidence, so essential to its usefulness, be 
expected for any system that is not distinctly under- 
stood, or which is left in any of its essential parts, 
to the various opinions, taste or experience of the 
individuals to whom may be entrusted the instruc- 
tion or superintendence of them. The Committee 
also suggest, that in the changes and improvements 
which may be adopted, reference should ever be had 



132 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

to the primary object for which these schools were 
established — the preparation of the pupils for the Gram- 
mar Schools. Nor should it be overlooked, that as 
no inconsiderable proportion of the children are of 
families in the poorer classes, unless public provision 
be made for their supply, frequent changes or the 
introduction of new studies, requiring many books, 
will be found inconvenient and burdensome." 

The Secretary of the Board and Messrs. Pray and 
Grant were appointed a Committee to revise the list 
of the organization of the Primary Board. Rev. Asa 
Rand and George A. Sampson were nominated to fill 
the vacancies in the Standing Committee, occasioned 
by the resignation of Dr. Spooner, who had removed 
from the city, and the election of Dr. J. W. McKean 
to the General School Committee. 

January 17. The Board having been notified of 
their appointment, proceeded to organize for the 
ensuing year, by the unanimous choice of the follow- 
ing officers and Committee : 

Chairman — Moses Grant. 

Secretary — Frederic T. Gray. 

Standing Committee — Francis Parkman, Chairman ; 
Lewis G. Pray, Secretary ; George B. Emerson, Chandler 
Bobbins, John P. Bigelow, Daniel Henchman, Charles 
Walker, D. H. Storer. 

In the Semi-Annual Report of the Standing Com- 
mittee, allusion was made to the severity of the 
winter, and the unprecedented price of wood, which 
subjected the instructors to a heavy tax in supply- 
ing their schools with fuel, and recommended that 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 133 

application be made to the City Government for 
relief. After some discussion, it was unanimously 
^^ Voted, That the Chairman and Secretary be a Com- 
mittee to present a memorial to the city authorities, 
petitioning that the sum of ten dollars be appropriated 
to each of the instructors of the several schools for 
the purchase of wood." This petition was presented 
to the City Council, February 23, and an order was 
passed by the Common Council, March 8, making the 
appropriation. In the following November, another 
application was made to the City Government, to 
make an annual appropriation of $14 for fuel for 
each of the schools, to be expended under the direc- 
tion of the several District Committees. This was 
committed to a Joint Committee, of which Alderman 
Henry J. Oliver was Chairman, who reported, Decem- 
ber 6th, " That the prayer of the memorialists appears 
to be reasonable, and that the public interests would 
be promoted, by yielding to the request therein con- 
tained; and they recommend the passage of the fol- 
lowing order:" 

Ordered, That there be allowed to each of the Primary 
School teachers, in addition to their salary, a sum not ex- 
ceeding $14, to be expended by them under the direction 
of the several District Committees for fuel for the current 
year. 

The Mayor and Aldermen passed the order after 
substituting $10, instead of $14, in which the Coun- 
cil refused to concur, but subsequently receded, and 
passed the order as amended. This annual appropri- 
ation was eventually superseded by the city supply- 



134 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

ing the fuel, through the " Joint Standing Committee 
on Fuel." 

The Standing Committee voted that the following, 
among other inquiries and duties, should be embraced 
in the Semi- Annual examination in April: 

The moral character of the school j the record book 
examined, and the number of examinations made by the 
District Committee the last six months, and by whom; 
whether the children are properly supplied with books; if 
explanations are given of the lessons, and questions asked; 
obtain the written answer to the circular, as to the methods 
of teacliing the alphabet, for the information of the Sub- 
Committee on that subject; whether the room is venti- 
lated, and how; if the teachers are in the habit of obtaining 
leave to close their schools on Training days, or other 
casual holidays, and how many instances have occurred the 
past year. The Secretary (Mr. Pray) and Mr. G. B. Emer- 
son were appointed a Committee to prepare and forward 
a circular to each of the teachers, to ascertain their respect- 
ive modes of teaching the alphabet; the answers to be ready, 
in writing, for the Examining Committee. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, April 24, 
Mr. Grant, the Chairman of the Board, informed the 
Committee that he had received from Noah Webster, 
Esq., a gift to the Primary Schools, of more than one 
hundred copies of a book entitled, " Biography, for the 
Use of Schools," the author of which is the donor; 
whereupon it was " Voted, That the Secretary be a Com- 
mittee to examine the book, and to report upon the 
disposition which should be made of the same." The 
letters from the teachers on the subject of teaching 
the alphabet, were referred to the Secretary and Mr. 
Emerson to consider and report. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 135 

At an adjourned meeting, April 30, the Secretary 
made a report on the book referred to him, stating 
objections to it, on account of the sectarian views 
expressed by the author, which, by the rules of the 
Board, would render it inadmissible for distribution 
among the schools. The report was accepted, and 
Dr. Charles Walker was requested to notice the gift, 
and the cause of its rejection, and also to notice in 
his report to the Board, the deficiency of the binding 
of the books used in the Primary Schools, and suggest 
that means be taken to obtain a remedy. At a subse- 
quent meeting, Messrs. Eobbins and Sampson were 
appointed a Committee to advise with the publisher 
of the books, and obtain, if possible, more attention 
to the binding of the same. From the abstract and 
report of the Semi-Annual Examination, by Dr. Walker, 
it appears that there were 63 Primary Schools in the 
city, containing 3,927 pupils; averaging 62 to a school. 
Three new schools were established during the past 
year, with 109 pupils. 

At the quarterly meeting of the Board, May 1, the 
Eule was changed, by which the Chairman or Secre- 
tary of each District was required to receive the sal- 
aries of the instructors ; and the teachers were " re- 
quired to present their bills, quarterly, to the City 
Auditor, made on the printed forms, j)rovided for that 
purpose, and approved by the Chairman or Secretary 
of the District Committee." 

Mr. Pray submitted several votes, by which the Dis- 
trict Committees were relieved of the labor of prepar- 
ing monthly reports ; and in lieu thereof, were required 
to prepare a tabular abstract from the teacher's reports, 



136 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

and forward them, to the Standmg Committee during 
the first weeks of January and July. Also, requiring 
" each instructor, on the last days of June and Decem- 
ber, to make returns to their District Committees, 
agreeably to the blanks furnished by the Board, in 
which they shall state, with precision and accuracy, 
the number of examinations and visits made to their 
schools, discriminating between the two, and by whom 
made; the number of pupils admitted, left, and be- 
longing to the school; the average attendance and 
absence during the previous six months ; the number 
sent to the Grammar Schools; with such remarks 
on the condition and wants of their schools as they 
may consider interesting and important." These votes 
were unanimously adopted, and the Standing Com- 
mittee were directed to have the proper blanks pre- 
pared. This arrangement was very judicious; and as 
it was continued during the existence of the Board, 
a large amount of valuable statistical information in 
relation to these schools is thus placed in a perma- 
nent form. 

1833. 

As the schools increased, the necessity of a strict 
uniformity in the books, studies and other matters 
pertaining to the schools, became more and more 
apparent. This subject had been especially alluded 
to in the report of the Standing Committee at the 
beginning of the year, and the sentiments therein 
expressed had been concurred in with great unanimity 
by the Board. From the number of new members, 
which were continually being added to the Board, it 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 137 

is not surprising that there should have been occasional 
infractions of the rules in respect to books or studies, 
which, at the request of a publisher, author or teacher, 
were inconsiderately introduced, by permission of a 
Local Committee, into his school. The confusion which 
would ensue from the exercise of any such power, 
by the different Local or District Committees, rendered 
the Standing Committee peculiarly sensitive upon this 
point ; and whenever an instance came to their knowl- 
edge, their admonitions were promptly given, and 
were generally received with courtesy and cheerfully 
corrected. 

At this time, however, an instance occurred, in which 
a district assumed the responsibility of introducing cer- 
tain books and apparatus into the schools in their dis- 
trict, and refused to recognize the propriety of any 
interference by the Standing Committee, with what 
they regarded as their prerogative. Under these cir- 
cumstances, the Standing Committee held a special 
meeting on the evening of January 10, 1833, and 
appointed Dr. Charles "Walker and Lewis G. Pray a 
Committee to confer with the Committee of the Dis- 
trict upon this subject, and if necessary to call a special 
meeting of the whole Board, and lay the case before 
them for their decision. The result of the conference 
not being satisfactory, a meeting of the Board was 
^ accordingly held, by order of the Standing Committee, 
on the evening of January 18, when they made the 
following statement : 

At a special meeting of the Standing Committee of Primary 
Schools, held on the evening of Jan. 10, at the house of the 

18 



138 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Chairman, to consider some complaints which had been made 
to different members of the Committee, of an alleged viola- 
tion of the Rules relating to the course of instruction pre- 
scribed for the Primary Schools, after the subject had been 
considered, it was Voted, unanimously, that, in the opinion of 
the Committee, there had been a violation of the Rules, which 
violation was of sufficient importance to make it the duty of 
the Standing Committee to call a special meeting of the 
whole Board to consider the subject, unless measures were 
taken by the Committee of District No. 6 to have the causes 
of complaint removed. A Sub-Committee was appointed to 
bring the matter before the Board, provided a special meeting 
was held ; in the discharge of which duty that Sub-Committee 
would offer this statement : — 

Representations having been made to members of the 
Standing Committee, that the regularly prescribed course of 
instruction had been departed from in some of the schools in 
District No. 6 at the instigation of a member lately elected 
to that district, and it appearing that there was danger, if 
permitted to continue without any notice having been taken 
of it, that it would lead to very serious difficulties, it was 
thought to be a part of their duty to make inquiries, and find 
out precisely how far these complaints were founded in truth. 
They consequently called at the several schools in the dis- 
trict, and made inquiries of the teachers on these points; 
from which visits they ascertained that the regularly pre- 
scribed course of instruction had been departed from in three 
or four of the schools — in some to a greater, and in some to 
a less extent. 

In School No. 8, Peter Parley's Geography, with Maps and 
a Globe, had been introduced ; also Geometrical cards and 
models of various figures. The Geography was used as an 
occasional reading book by the children ; and the other 
things were also used by the teacher. In three other schools, 
more or less of the same things had been introduced. It ap- 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 139 

peared further, that, all of them had been given to the schools, 
though, in some cases, the parents had been requested to 
purchase the Geography for their children. 

It also appeared that the gentleman elected at the last 
quarterly meeting to take charge of School No. 8, District 
No. 6, had been the cause of the introduction of those studies. 
The Committee consider these acts as violations of Rule 1, 
Sect, iv., which says that, '' The instructors are to teach their 
pupils agreeably to the course of instruction hereinafter pre- 
scribed ; " and also of Rule 6, Sect, iv., v^hich says, " The 
instructors are forbidden to permit any tracts or other pub- 
lications to be distributed in their schools ; " also, of the 
circular dated April 20, 1830, which directs the instructors to 
conform strictly to the hours for beginning and closing the 
schools, specified in the Rules and Regulations, and also to 
the course of instruction therein laid down for the several 
classes of children under their care. 

From a careful examination of the Rules and Regulations 
of the Board, the Committee are at a loss to discover where 
the authority has been obtained to introduce new subjects of 
study. They had supposed that the regular way of accom- 
plishing this object was to introduce the subject at a regular 
meeting of the whole Board, and if it was there approved 
of, then the proposer would be at liberty to introduce it, but 
not till then. They do not think that it is proper to con- 
sider whether these things, if properly introduced, would be 
likely to be beneficial to the schools or not; that they con- 
ceive will be a proper subject for consideration when it is 
regularly brought before them ,• neither do they think it is 
material whether much or little use has been made of these 
things, so far. They think the question is simply this — Has 
an individual member of this Board, or any District Com- 
mittee, authority to make such alterations in the course of 
studies, as either may think best? Or, have either the 



140 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

authority to make any change in the course of studies pre- 
scribed by the whole Board ? These are the questions which 
the Committee think should be answered at this time. They 
believe it has always been understood by the Primary School 
Committee, that the whole Board, and that only, should decide 
on the course of instruction ; and it appears to them that a 
little reflection must satisfy any one that this is the only safe 
and proper course. For it is obvious, that if one has the 
right to vary, or alter the course of instruction, every other 
one has the same right; and this being once conceded in a 
Board constituted as this is, changing from month to month, 
we should be liable to have the different schools managed in 
as many different ways as there are gentlemen having charge 
of them ; for probably every one would think that he could 
improve his school in some particular. 

There is one more subject which the Committee think calls 
for the action of this Board. They have learned that one 
or more of the teachers consider themselves as having a dis- 
cretionary power to make use of such books, pamphlets, 
papers, or other means as they may think most likely to 
benefit their pupils. 

As the duty of the Sub-Committee is simply to bring these 
subjects fairly before this Board for their consideration and 
action, they abstain from going into any argument on the 
general merits and bearings of these questions, believing that 
this may be done with more propriety in another form. 

To this statement, Mr. Rand, in behalf of the Com- 
mittee of District No. 6, and other gentlemen of that 
district, replied that the Books, Maps, Globes, &c., al- 
luded to, were not introductions of books and studies 
contrary to the laws of the Primary Schools ; they were 
not new books or studies siihsiituted for the old, but were 
introduced to illustrate and explain, more clearly, those 



ANNALS OF THE PRIJIARY SCHOOLS. 141 

lessons which were taught in the books prescribed by 
the Rules of the Board j that the children had taken 
greater interest in their schools since this mode of 
illustration was adopted. Mr. Eand also read the report 
of a Sub-committee of District No. 6, which substan- 
tially admitted the charges made by the Standing Com- 
mittee, in which they maintain that the books, &c., were 
introduced as mere aids to the instructor, and that they 
had found them very beneficial ; that the District had 
a right to introduce them for this purpose ; and that 
the Standing Committee, by their interference, had 
transcended their legitimate powers and duties. 

After much discussion, the meeting was adjourned to 
Tuesday evening, Jan. 22d, when the question was again 
warmly debated, after which the following resolutions, 
proposed by the Standing Committee, were adopted : — 

1. That neither the District Committees, nor teachers of 
the Primary Schools, have any authority to introduce new 
books, studies or means of instruction, into their respective 
schools without first obtaining for the same the approval of 
this Board. 

2. That this Board acknowledge no discretionary power in 
the teachers of the Primary Schools to use, or permit to be 
used, as a part of the course of instruction, any books, pam- 
phlets, newspapers, or other publications, or means of instruc- 
tion, but those which have been sanctioned by this Board. 

3. That these Resolutions be printed, and sent to each 
member of the Committee and Instructor connected with 
these schools, to the end, that the violations of these Rules, to 
which complaint has been made, may be forthwith redressed, 
and to prevent their violation in future. 



142 ANNALS OF TILE TRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

By this action of the Board, the conservatism of the 
Standing Committee was fully sustained, which is a 
stronger evidence of their power and influence than 
would at first appear; since their interference in the 
present case was in opposition to a wide-spread popular 
sentiment in favor of Oral instruction. At this period, 
the " Lyceum System " was in the full tide of success- 
ful experiment. This was peculiarly a New England 
institution ; and, appealing to that love and desire for 
popular education, inherent to our people, the idea of 
an association for mutual improvement by the dissemi- 
nation of general information in science and the arts, 
was responded to with such zeal and enthusiasm that 
the most attractive places of amusem^ent were neglected, 
to throng the various lyceums which had sprung up 
as if by the waving of a magic wand, in the cities, 
towns and villages of many of the States. The excite- 
ment of the ball-room, and attraction of the drama, 
paled before the more powerful influence of the lyceum 
lecture. In five years from the formation of the first 
lyceum, by Mr. Josiah' Holbrook and a few citizens 
of Worcester County, Massachusetts, in 1826, the 
system had spread through all the various forms of 
society; and in 1832-33, the number of institutions 
on this general plan in the several States appears 
almost incredible. Besides the lyceums formed in the 
towns, which were designated usually by the name 
of the town in which they were located, there were 
the National Lyceum, State Lyceum, County Lyceum, 
Teachers' Lyceum, Farmers' Lyceum, Mechanics' Ly- 
ceum, Seaman's Lyceum, Ladies' Lyceum, Mother's 
Lyceum, Social Lyceum, Juvenile Lyceum, School 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 143 

Lyceum, and Family Lyceum, all of which had been 
formed under the auspices of Mr. Holbrook, who was 
the indefatigable promoter, if not the originator, of 
the system. 

It was under these circumstances and at this time, 
that Mr. Holbrook was admitted a member of District 
No. 6, in the Boston Primary Schools; and it is not 
surprising that he should soon have attempted to 
introduce his peculiar ideas and system of lyceum 
education into the Primary Schools, with which he 
was particularly connected. Sanctioned by the other 
members of his own District, and encouraged by the 
teachers, who were undoubtedly more or less influenced 
by the popular pressure in favor of the system, he 
presented to several of the schools a variety of illus- 
trative apparatus, and introduced and encouraged the 
children to obtain some of the interesting works of 
" Peter Parley," and others. Trifling and unobjection- 
able as this proceeding appeared to be, it was, never- 
theless, a serious innovation. The Primary Schools 
were established for elementary instruction, and par- 
ticularly for the benefit of the poorer classes ; the 
great object of its friends was to make the expense 
as reasonable as possible, to the community for instruc- 
tion, and to the parents of the children for books. It 
was in pursuance of these ends that the Standing Com- 
mittee opposed the proceedings in the schools of Dis- 
trict No. 6 ; and it was upon this ground that they 
were sustained by the whole Board. Like other enthu- 
siasts, Mr. Holbrook and his friends attempted to 
introduce innovations, without a due regard to the 
consequences and effect upon the schools, as a whole. 



144 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

the experience of the past, or the rights and privileges 
of their associates. 

The Ijceum system was, and has proved, a boon 
of great value in elevating the intellectual character 
and tastes of our people ; but time and experience 
have sanctioned and sustained but one of the many 
classes of its projector ; and a few town lyceums now 
remain as the only representatives of a system which, 
but a few years since, was deemed so potent and uni- 
versal as a means of education. 

On the 5th of February, the School Committee hav- 
ing appointed the members of the Primary Board, the 
quarterly meeting was held, and the Board was organ- 
ized for the ensuing year : 

Chairman — Moses Grant. 

Secretary — Edward G. Davis. 

Standing Committee — Rev. F. Parkman, Chairman; 
Lewis G. Pray, Secretary; John P. Bigelow, Charles 
Walker, George W. Otis, Rev. Asa Rand, Charles 
Choate, George A. Sampson. 

The Semi-Annual Report of the State of the Schools, 
founded on the returns of the District Committees, was 
read by Rev. Dr. Parkman, and accepted. 

Mr. George H. Snelling, after some explanation, 
submitted the following vote : " That each District 
Committee be allowed to select one school in their 
District, in which new methods of instruction may be 
experimentally introduced ; provided, however, that 
the prescribed studies of the school be in no degree 
neglected for such object, nor the prescribed hours 
exceeded." After some remarks of Mr. Pray on the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 145 

difficulty of carrying out any such arrangement of 
the schools, the motion was laid upon the table. 

Mr. Clement Durgin, of District No. Q, asked leave 
of the Board to introduce, at his own expense, in 
school No. 2 in that District, certain articles for the 
purpose of instruction, viz. : " a Blackboard, a number 
of Slates and Pencils, and some forms suitable for 
children to write at, on the Slate." Unexceptionable 
as this application appeared, the Board refused to 
grant it, without considering its eifect upon other 
schools, and it was accordingly laid upon the table. 

Messrs. Davis, Band, Pray, Marvin, and Snelling, 
"were appointed a Committee to consider the expe- 
diency of compiling or recommending a new book 
for the use of the First Class, to be used in connec- 
tion with the New Testament." 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, April 
30, the reports of the Semi-Annual examination were 
committed to Dr. Charles Choate, to make an abstract 
for the use of the whole Board. He was also directed 
to call the attention of the Board to the subject of 
physical instruction, and to state the results of the 
inquiries as to the time requisite to teach the alphabet 
in the Primary Schools. 

On the 13th of March, a petition was presented to 
the Board of Aldermen by the citizens residing on the 
Mill Dam, for a school to be located on that avenue, 
which was transmitted to the Standing Committee 
of the Primary Schools, and by them referred to 
Messrs. Pray and Otis to consider and report. At 
the next meeting. May 6, the Committee reported, 
recommending "that $125 per annum should be 

19 



146 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

allowed for a school upon the Mill Dam, which school 
should be j)laced under the management of a Local 
Committee, resident upon the Mill Dam j this Com- 
mittee to be appointed by the Standing Committee, 
and the instructor to be approved by them. The 
school, in other respects, to be managed in the same 
manner as other Primary Schools, excepting that the 
Local Committee shall have the power to retain chil- 
dren over seven years of age, and advance them in 
their studies, according to the Rules and Regulations 
of the Grammar Schools." This report was read to 
the whole Board at the quarterly meeting, May 7, 
and accepted; and the Standing Committee was 
directed to organize the school, in conformity with 
the plan proposed. The school was accordingly estab- 
lished, and Messrs. Samuel Fowle, Benjamin Simmons, 
and Joshua Seaver, Jr., were ajDpointed a Committee 
to take charge of the same. 

On motion of Mr. Pray, the Board appointed a 
Committee of eleven, viz. : Messrs. Pray, Choate, Sum- 
ner, Hobart, Marvin, Snelling, Loring, Stebbins, Walker, 
Ligraham, and Durgin, "to consider whether any and 
what improvements, in regard to physical education, 
means of instruction, or books for study, can be made 
in the Primary Schools." 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, July 30, 
a note was received from Rev. Dr. Parkman, resigning 
his place as a member of the Committee; and "the 
Secretary was directed to offer him the thanks of the 
Standing Committee, for the faithful and courteous 
manner in which he had discharged the duties of mem- 
ber and Chairman of this Committee." The Commit- 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 147 

tee then proceeded to ballot for a Chairman, and made 
choice of Mr. Lewis G. Pray. Messrs. Pray and Walker 
were then appointed a Committee to select a candidate 
to supply the place of Mr. Parkman, and they reported 
in favor of Mr. Theophilus R Marvin being nominated 
to the whole Board. 

August 6. Quarterly meeting of the Board. Mr. 
Marvin was elected to fill the vacancy in the Standing 
Committee, caused by the resignation of the Rev. Mr. 
Parkman ; and the following vote was unanimously 
passed by the Board ; " Voted, That the thanks of this 
Board be presented to the Rev. Francis Parkman, for 
his fiithful, efficient, and very acceptable services, both 
as a member of this Board, and of the Standing Com- 
mittee, continued as they have been through many 
3^ears; and that a copy of this vote be presented to 
him by the Secretary, as an expression of our regret 
at his retirement from the Board." 

The Committee appointed, February 5, on the sub- 
ject of a Reading Book for the First Class, reported 
in favor of " The First Reader," compiled by Rev. John 
L. Blake. The. subject was recommitted to the same 
Committee, with instructions to make inquiries respect- 
ing the price at which the work could be furnished, the 
manner of binding, &c. The Committee were also 
directed to furnish each member of the Board with a 
copy of " Blake's First Reader " for examination, and 
also a copy of " Pierpont's Young Reader." 

Messrs. J. W. Ingraham, A. A. Gould, and L. S. Cragin 
were appointed a Committee "to have the Primary 
School papers duly filed and arranged in such order 
as to be conveniently consulted." 



148 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

The following recommendation, by the Standing 
Committee, was adopted by the Board : " In future, 
all children requesting permits of admission to the 
Primary Schools, shall be required to produce a 
certificate from a physician, of their having been 
vaccinated." 

An order was also made known to the Board, as 
adopted by the General School Committee, whereby 
" all children over eight years of age, who are not quali- 
fied by their attainments, shall be admitted into the 
Grammar Schools ; provided that their parents or guar- 
dians shall first obtain permission of the Sub-Commit- 
tee of the school where it is proposed they shall be 
admitted." 

November 5. Quarterly meeting of the Board. The 
Semi-Annual Report of the Standing Committee was 
read by Mr. T. R. Marvin, and accepted. 

A communication was received from Mr. Mulkey, 
teacher of a new system of Orthoepy, requesting per- 
mission to make trial of his system in one of the Pri- 
mary Schools, and referred to Messrs. Ingraham, Gore, 
Brown, Otis, Marvin, Gulliver, Loring, Stimpson, Pray, 
and Walker, with instructions to report at an adjourned 
meeting. 

The salary of the teacher of the Mill Dam school 
was raised to the same sum as that of the other Pri- 
mary School teachers. 

The report of the Committee, recommending Blake's 
"First Reader" as a First Class Book, was accepted; 
and the Secretary was " directed to inform the publish- 
ers of the work of its adoption, and propose to them to 
reduce the price to $1.75 per dozen for such a number 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 149 

as may be wanted for immediate supply;" and also 
"to inform the publishers that the same will be re- 
tained in the schools only so long as the Board shall 
deem it expedient." 

The Committee on the subject of improvement, ap- 
pointed May 7, made a report, and recommended the 
adoption of the following Resolutions : 

1. That the district committees and instructors of all the 
Primary Schools, jointly and severally, be directed to have 
the seats of their respective schools so arranged as to secure 
the greatest amount of support and comfort of position to 
the greatest number of their scholars. 

2. That the following be adopted as Rule 10, Sect, v., of 
the Rules and Regulations. It shall be the duty of the 
instructors to attend to the physical comfort and education 
of the pupils under their care ; and to this end, the ordinary 
duties and exercises of the schools shall be suspended for a 
portion of time not exceeding fifteen minutes each part of the 
day. This time shall be taken together, or divided, at the 
discretion of the teacher; and occupied according to the 
state of the weather, the season of the year, and the situation 
and convenience of the school-room ; and in such manner as 
each instructor shall judge best adapted to relieve weariness, 
strengthen the physical constitution, excite a love of order, 
and associate with the school ideas of cheerfulness as well as 
improvement. 

3. That a Committee be appointed to prepare a card, or 
cards, on the principles of this report, for the use of the 4th 
class. 

4. That the schools be furnished with a sufficient number 
of slates and pencils for the use of the 4th class. 

5. That the study of Arithmetic be introduced in all the 
classes as a part of the course of instruction. 



150 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

All the foregoing resolutions were adopted by the 
Board, and ordered to be incorporated into the Rules 
and Regulations. 

At an adjourned meeting of the Board, November 
12, Mr. T. R. Marvin, from the Committee on the re- 
quest of Mr. Mulkey, read a report, recommending 
"that the same be granted, under the direction and 
supervision of a Committee of three persons, to be 
appointed by the Board." This report was accepted, 
and Messrs. Marvin, Pray and Walker were chosen 
as the Committee. 

On motion of Mr. Pray, the Secretary was directed 
to purchase a sufficient number of slates and pencils, 
and have the following Orders printed and sent to each 
of the Committee and instructors : 

Ordered, That the fourth classes in the Primary Schools be 
hereafter furnished with slates and pencils (which may be 
procured on account of the City at the bookstore of Mr. 
Samuel G. Simpkins, No. 79 Court Street), and when not en- 
gaged in the study or recitation of their lessons, be employed 
in using them to imitate some mark, letter, or other object 
placed thereon, or in copying from a card suspended before 
them for the purpose. 

Ordered, That Numeration, or counting 1 to 100, be taught 
to the fourth class ; the combination of these numbers, so as 
readily to find the page in any book, to the second division, 
third class ; that the arithmetical tables be commenced in the 
first division, third class ; that the same be completed, and 
the study of the rules and examples begun, in the second 
class 5 and that the study of the " North American Arith- 
metic " be completed by the pupils in the first class, before 
receivinor a ticket of admission to the Grammar Schools. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 151 

Under the Resolutions adopted on the 5th of Novem- 
ber, and the foregoing Orders, measures were effectually 
introduced for promoting the health and comfort of 
the children, and for systematizing the study of arith- 
metic, which had been heretofore almost entirely at 
the discretion of the teacher. 

The Secretary submitted an offer from Messrs. Rus- 
sell, Odiorne & Co., to furnish " Blake's Reader " in any 
quantity to the Primary Schools at $2 per dozen, which 
was accepted by the Board. 

The necessity of having something done in relation 
to school-rooms, became more and more apparent ; 
and, notwithstanding the ill success of previous efforts, 
the subject was again brought before the Board at 
their quarterly meeting, August 6 * when, on motion 
of Dr. Walker, Messrs. "Walker, Cheat e, Ingraham, Pal- 
frey, Sumner, Marvin, Hartshorn, Snelling, Hatch, and 
Stebbins, were appointed a Committee to make appli- 
cation to the City Government "for an appropriation 
of money for the purpose of building and furnishing 
suitable rooms for the accommodation of the Primary 
Schools, whenever suitable opportunities may offer in 
any of the Districts." 

This Committee, by a Sub-Committee, presented their 

*This movement, which resulted in a successful application to the City- 
Government, is due to Mr. T. R. Marvin, -who was a member of the Com- 
mittee, appointed May 6, in " regard to the improvements in education in the 
Primary Schools." This Committee met May 7th, and after they had fin- 
ished their business, a conversation took place on the subject of school houses, 
when ]\Ir. Marvin pi-oposed that a new effort should be made to prevail upon 
the City Government to do something in the matter. His views were advo- 
cated by Dr. AValker and Mr. Ingraham, and resulted in a determination to 
again bring the subject to the attention of the Board. 



152 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

application in behalf of the Board, to the City Council, 
and the subject was referred to the Joint Committee on 
Public Instruction, August 22, 1833. On the 14th of 
November, a report was made by the Mayor, Hon. 
Charles Wells, as Chairman of the " Joint Standing 
Committee on Public Instruction," in which he states, 
" That the Primary Schools of the City have been con- 
ducted so judiciously by the several Committees, under 
whose superintendence they have been placed, and the 
teachers have discharged their duty with so much abil- 
ity, that these schools have been a prominent part of 
our School System, and will, undoubtedly, always be 
supported at the expense of the public. The experi- 
ment has exceeded the most sanguine expectations 
of its warmest advocates, and its permanency, as a 
part of our Public School education, is firmly estab- 
lished. Under these circumstances, it appears to your 
Committee that such rooms as are not occupied in the 
lower story of the Grammar School-houses, as will be 
convenient for Primary Schools, ought to be appropri- 
ated to their use." 

" And at the next annual appropriation, the sum of 
$10,000 should be applied to the purchase of land and 
the erecting of buildings for the same object ; this sum 
will be sufficient to provide six buildings, (including the 
land,) which may be so constructed as to accommodate 
two schools in each building ; and should this course be 
adopted the ensuing year, and repeated for the next 
four years, at that period the city will own a sufficient 
number of buildings to accommodate all the Primary 
Schools." 

This report was read and accepted by both branches 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 153 

of the City Government, November 14, 1833 ; and in 
the next annual appropriation in May, 1834, $12,500 
was appropriated for the purchase of land and the erec- 
tion of Primary School-houses. At this time there were 
sixty-four schools, all of which were held in hired 
rooms. The first Primary School-house was erected in 
South Margin Street in 1834;* it was built of wood 
and brick, two stories in height, and adapted for two 
schools. The cost of it was |2,528 69, exclusive of the 
land. In pursuance of the policy thus decided u]3on by 
the City Government, four more schools were built 
during the ensuing year, 1835-36. They were located 
on North Margin Street, Tileston Street, Castle Street, 
and Purchase Place. Each of these were adapted for 
two schools, and the cost of the whole was about 
$12,500, of which sum about $4,000 was paid for the 
land. From this time the City Government have con- 
tinued to make annual appropriations for this object; 
and in 1854 there were fifty-two Primary School-houses 
owned by the city, in which one hundred and fifty- 
three schools were located. 



1834. 

The first meeting of the Primary School Board, after 
their appointment, was held February 4, at which they 
proceeded to organize the Board as follows. The 

*It is proper to mention, that in 1830-31, a small school-house, with one 
room, was built by the city, on the " Western Avenue," at a cost of S468 ; 
but this was not strictly a Primary School, as Grammar School studies were 
taught, as well as the Primary. In 1832, a small building was purchased on 
the " Neck," and fitted up for a Primary School. 
20 



154 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Chairman (Moses Grant, Esq.,) having declined a 
reelection. 

Chairman — Lewis G. Pray. 

Secretary — Edward G. Davis. 

Standing Committee — Chas. Wall^er, Chairman ; Geo. 
W. Otis, Jr., Secretary; George A. Sampson, Charles 
Choate, Theophilus R. Marvin, Samuel Tenney, Lewis 
G. Pray, John P. Bigelow. 

Committee of Conference — Messrs. Walker, Marvin and 
Davis. 

On motion of Mr. Hatch, it was unanimously " Voted, 
That the thanks of this Board be presented to Moses 
Grant, Esq., for his able and faithful services as Chair- 
man, and for the continued interest he has manifested 
in the welfare of the schools connected with this 
Board." 

Formal, and in accordance with custom, as this vote 
may appear, yet probably no tribute of the kind was 
ever passed in this Board, if in any other, which was 
more deserved. Living as he now is in our midst, 
and with head and heart engaged, as ever, in the active 
duties of philanthropy and benevolence, we feel obliged 
to refrain from speaking of his public labors as they 
merit ; but we deem it our province and duty to place, 
on this humble record, the evidence of his unremitting 
devotion to the interests of the Primary Schools. 

Deacon Grant, was one of the active friends, and 
original petitioners for this class of schools, — he was 
a member of the first Primary School Committee ap- 
pointed in 1818, — and a member of the Standing 
Committee from its first organization in 1820, until 
1834. From March, 1820, to January, 1830, he was 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 155 

Secretary of the Standing Committee, and was present 
at all but five of the regular monthly, and adjourned 
meetings, during the whole of that time. From Feb- 
ruary, 1830, until 1834, he was Chairman of the whole 
Board, and ex officio member of the Standing Com- 
mittee. In addition to all this, his official position as 
Secretary of the Standing Committee, caused him to 
be j)li^ced on almost every sub-committee which was 
appointed, during his term of office. His labors were 
arduous, but by his prompt attendance, and systematic 
discharge of his various duties, none were neglected ; 
and while he commanded the respect and esteem of 
his associates, his long experience and calm judgment 
rendered his services invaluable to the schools. Such 
a record is honorable to him as a good citizen, and 
worthy of the self-sacrificing spirit of the Patriot and 
the Christian. 

At this meeting of the Board, a Standing Com- 
mittee on school-rooms was elected, consisting of one 
member from each District, and two from the Stand- 
ing Committee. 

Mr. T. R. Marvin, Chairman of the Committee on 
Mr. Mulkey's request, presented a report which was 
accepted. 

From this report, it appears, that after a conference 
with the Committee, Mr. Mulkey was allowed to try 
his system in School No. 4, District No. 5, kept by 
Miss Cragin, " and that he had given twelve lectures 
to the children of about half an hour each. The 
children were also instructed by their teacher, in 
Mr. Mulkey's system, one hour and a half each 
day ; and made as much proficiency as could have 



156 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

been expected for the time." The Committee, how- 
ever, state, that " from the hmited time, which has 
been spent on this subject, they are not prepared to 
give a very definite opinion of Mr. Mulkey's system 
of teaching. They believe that some part of it may 
prove useful, particularly to the teachers. They 
cannot, however, at present, recommend its intro- 
duction into the Primary Schools. It is so great an 
innovation upon the common system, that they think 
if it should be introduced at all into the schools, it 
ought to be done in a gradual manner, as it will 
require considerable attention, on the part of the 
teachers, to become familiar with it. It appears, 
also, that the whole of Mr. Mulkey's system has not 
been developed ; that part on which he has been 
lecturing being more particularly adpated to teachers. 

The Committee conclude their report by recom- 
mending, " that the system be continued in Miss 
Cragin's school, under their control, and that they be 
directed to report further at the next quarterly meet- 
ing of the Board." 

Another report was accordingly made at the quarterly 
meeting May 6, upon which, on motion of Mr. J. P. Bige- 
low, it was " Voted, that the experiment be continued in 
Miss Cragin's school," and " that other teachers duly 
qualified, have liberty to employ the system in the in- 
struction of their 4t]i classes, with the consent, and 
under the direction of their Local Committees." 

It does not appear from the Records, that under 
these Votes, the system of Mr. Mulkey was intro- 
duced to any considerable extent into the Primary 
Schools, as no further report appears to have been 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 157 

made upon the subject. That it was fairly tested, 
there is no doubt, as the influence exerted in its favor 
was very great. The Grammar School Board had 
already taken action, by appointing a Committee, in 
October, 1833, to consider the expediency of employ- 
ing the Rev. Wm. Mulkey to lecture to the teachers 
of the several Public Schools, on the accent and pro- 
nunciation of the English language. This Committee 
reported by their Chairman, Rev. George W. Blagden, 
" that after due examination, they considered the sys- 
tem of Mr. Mulkey, as a simple and interesting process 
for understanding the important princijDles of English 
Orthoepy, and that in their opinion, it was expedient 
and proper, to employ him to lecture to the teachers 
upon this subject. And they recommend that the 
Board do, by their Chairman, respectfully ask the 
City Council for an appropriation sufficient to carry 
this design into execution." 

This Report was accepted, and on the application 
of j.the Mayor, ( Chairman ex officio) the City Council 
passed an order Nov. 14, 1833, authorizing the School 
Committee to employ Mr. Mulkey, and appropriating 
Five Hundred dollars for these lectures. 

Thus recommended by the Grammar Board, which 
at this time comprehended the entire Board of Alder- 
men, — endorsed by the Professor of Elocution at 
Harvard University, and many other eminent literary 
gentlemen, — and sanctioned by a liberal approj^ria- 
tion of the City Government, — Mr. Mulkey presented 
his request to the Primary School Committee. The 
request was granted, and the experiment placed under 
the direction of an experienced and judicious com- 



158 ANNALS or THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

mittee, a portion of whose reports have been ah^eady 
presented, and affords another illustration of the care- 
ful conservatism of this Board, upon the introduction 
of any new project, however influentially urged upon 
their attention. 

Mr. Mulkey's system of Orthoepy was similar to 
those which have been often attempted, in various 
forms, but more recently under the name of " Phonet- 
ics ; " in which the real elementary sounds, which con- 
stitute the syllables, are at once taught, instead of first 
teaching the conventional sounds or names of the let- 
ters. In theory such a system commends itself to our 
judgment, but, to reduce it to practice, renders the 
changes and innovations in our language so radical 
and extensive, as to preclude the possibility of its 
successful introduction. We should, however, do great 
injustice to those friends of education, through whose 
instrumentality these various experiments have been 
tried in our schools, were we not to admit that great 
advantages have accrued to the process of education, 
from the valuable ideas which, by this means, have 
been suggested or obtained. 

At a meeting of the Board, Aug. 5, the Standing 
Committee announced the death of Mr. George A. 
Sampson, who had been, for some years, associated with 
the Board as a member of the District, and of the Stand- 
ing Committee ; the duties of which, he had performed 
in a most faithful and exemplary manner ; and on their 
recommendation, Mr. Francis Brown was chosen as a 
member of the Standing Committee to fill the va- 
cancy occasioned by the decease of Mr. Sampson. 

A model of a "Punkah," or fan for the ventilation 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 159 

of school-rooms, having been exhibited, Drs. Otis and 
Stebbins, and Mr. Austin, were chosen a Committee to 
examine the same, and if they judged it expedient, to 
have one erected for trial. 

At the quarterly meeting Nov. 4, the Chairman com- 
municated to the Board, the resignation of Dr. Edward 
G. Davis as Secretary, whereupon, Mr. Gustavus Horton 
was elected. 

Dr. Thomas Gray, Jr., having resigned his place as 
Committee of School No. 5, District No. 3, and Mr. 
John P. Lathrop, a teacher in one of the Public Gram- 
mar Schools, having been proposed as a substitute, 
an incidental discussion ensued, on the propriety of 
teachers in these schools becoming members of the 
Primary School Committee. It was accordingly moved, 
that the subject be referred to a Committee to report 
upon at the next meeting. This motion was decided 
in the negative, and Mr. Lathrop was admitted, and re- 
mained upon the Board until Nov., 1836. At the next 
meeting, Mr. Charles Fox, another Grammar School 
teacher, was nominated to fill a vacancy in District 
No. 7 ; but after rather an elaborate debate, a ballot 
was taken, and Mr. Fox was rejected. No objections 
were made to the character or qualifications of Mr. 
Fox, but the rejection of his nomination was simply 
an expression of the opinion of the Board as to the 
principle involved in the election of Grammar School- 
masters as members of the Primary Board. Subse- 
quently a Committee was appointed upon the sub- 
ject, and upon their report the Board "^ Voted, That 
it was inexpedient for the teachers of the Grammar 



160 ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 

Schools to be elected as members of the Primary 
School Committee." 



1835. 

February 3. This being the regular meeting for 
the choice of officers for the ensuing year, the Board 
proceeded to organize as follows: 

Chairman — Lewis G. Pray. 

Secreiary — Gustavus Horton. 

Standing Committee — George W. Otis, Jr., Chairman ; 
Frederic A. Sumner, Secretary ; Lewis G. Pray, John 
P. Bigelow, Francis Brown, Theophilus R. Marvin, 
Samuel Tenney, George Rogers. 

Committee of Conference — T. R. Marvin, G. W. Otis, 
Jr., F. A. Sumner. 

At the quarterly meeting, May 5, an order was 
passed, appointing Messrs. Thomas Hunting, Henry 
Hatch, and Samuel Tenney, a Committee to attend 
to a division of District No. 7. This Committee sub- 
sequently reported, August 4, in favor of dividing 
the district, so that District No. 7 should contain 
schools Nos. 1, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10, and the new District 
No. 9 should consist of schools Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 11 and 
12, the last being a new school. On the recommend- 
ation of the Standing Committee, Dr. John Flint was 
chosen in place of Mr. Marvin, who had resigned 
as a member of that body; and Dr. Augustus A. 
Gould was elected for the new District, No. 9, as 
members of the Standing Committee. 

At this meeting a report was made by Mr. Pray, 
approving of the study of Ethics, in some simple 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 161 

form, as a part of the course of instruction in the 
Primary Schools. This report was accepted, and the 
mode of its introduction referred to the same Com- 
mittee; but it does not appear to have been intro- 
duced into any of the schools. 

A j^etition was presented to the Board, November 
3, from the inhabitants of East Boston, requesting 
the establishment of a Primary School in that sec- 
tion of the city. This petition was referred to the 
Standing Committee to make inquiry, and if found 
expedient, to establish a school on the same plan 
as that on the Mill Dam. 

A petition was also presented from the teachers 
of the schools, under the care of the Primary Board, 
setting forth the duties and responsibilities devolv- 
ing upon them, and requesting that their com- 
pensation might be increased. Whereupon, it was 
unanimously '^ Voted, That the Standing Committee 
be instructed to petition the next City Council to 
increase the pay of the teachers from $200 to $250 
per annum." 

It was also "^^ Voted, That a Standing Committee 
on School Books be appointed, the Committee to con- 
sist of five." Messrs. L. G. Pray, C. F. Barnard, A. 
A. Gould, J. P. Lathrop, and G. Horton, were elected 
as the first Committee under this vote. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, Novem- 
ber 11, the following Resolutions were adopted, viz.: 

1. That the Semi- Annual examinations shall be made dur- 
ing the first three weeks in the months of April and October. 

2. That each member of the Standing Committee shall re- 
port in writing on the condition of the district assigned him. 

21 



162 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

3. That the Report shall give a brief statement of the 
condition of each school examined, and at the close a sum- 
mary of the condition of the whole district. 

4. That each member of the Standing Committee, in turn, 
beginning with the Chairman, and proceeding according to 
seniority of office, shall make up the quarterly abstracts for 
the use of the whole Board, and no member shall be at liberty 
to decline the duty, but may procure a substitute by exchange 
or otherwise. 

The school at East Boston was then organized by 
the choice of Mr. Guy C. Haynes and Mr. Benjamin 
Brown as a Committee for the school, and Miss E. 
L. Pierce as teacher. 

1836. 

February 2. A communication was received from 
Samuel F. McCleary, Esq., Secretary of the School 
Committee, containing a vote of that body, confirm- 
ing the present members of the Primary Board in 
office another year, and authorizing them to fill any 
vacancies which may occur in their numbers during 
the year. 

Mr. Lewis G. Pray having declined standing as a 
candidate for the office of Chairman another year, 
on motion of Mr. J. W. Bourne, it was " Voted, That 
a Committee of one from each District be appointed 
by the Chairman to nominate a candidate for that 
office." The Committee subsequently reported the 
name of Dr. George W. Otis, Jr., as a suitable person 
to fill the office of Chairman of the Board; which 
nomination was confirmed by Dr. Otis receiving 
nearly all the ballots of the Board. Mr. Gustavus 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 163 

HoRTON was unanimously reelected Secretary, but de- 
clined the office at the next meeting. All the mem- 
bers of the Standing Committee were reelected, and 
the same Committee of Conference were reappointed. 

The subject of paying a salary to the Secretary 
of the Board and Standing Committee for the ensu- 
ing year, was referred to a Committee. 

The Standing Committee reported that they had 
established the school at East Boston, and also that 
another school, of the same character, had been 
petitioned for, to be located in the same section. 
Upon the suggestion of the Standing Committee, the 
Board " Voted, That the subject of another school be 
referred to the Standing Committee, with authority 
to confer with the Grammar School Committee, as 
to the propriety of establishing such schools in which 
other than primary studies are taught; and whether 
the Primary Board is justified in organizing them." 

The Chairman of the Standing Committee subse- 
quently addressed a note to the Committee of Con- 
ference, on the part of the Grammar Schools, request- 
ing that a time and place may be appointed by them 
to meet a Sub-Committee of the Standing Commit- 
tee, in reference to the school at East Boston. At a 
meeting, March 29, Mr. Pray, from the Committee 
of Conference, reported " that a Conference had been 
held with the Committee of the Grammar School 
Board, and that leave had been obtained to receive 
into the schools at East Boston, such children as did 
not strictly come within the Primary School Regula- 
tions." Upon which, Mr. Pray and Dr. Otis were 
appointed a Committee to ascertain "if there was a 



164 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

sufficient number of pupils to warrant the establish- 
ment of another school at East Boston; and if so, 
to make the necessary arrangements for its organiza- 
tion, such as obtaining a room, selecting a teacher 
and Committee to take charge of it. The Secretary 
was also " directed to notify the City Auditor, at the 
proper time, of the formation of the new school, 
and the names of the Committee and teacher, that 
the salary of the latter could be properly provided 
for." 

We have entered into a detail of the proceedings 
in resard to the formation of this school, to illustrate 
the cautious manner in which new schools were estab- 
lished by the Primary School Committee, and their 
respect for the prerogatives of the Grammar Board; 
and also as an indication of the reciprocal courtesy 
which characterized their intercourse upon questions 
of mutual interest. 

At the quarterly meeting, May 6, the thanks of the 
Board were tendered to Mr. Lewis G. Pray for the 
acceptable manner in which he had performed the 
duties of Chairman, and to Mr. Gustavus Horton for 
his faithful and laborious services as Secretary of the 
Board. 

Messrs. E. W. Bayley and L. G. Pray were appointed 
a " Committee to call upon the publishers of the sev- 
eral books used in the Primary Schools, and remon- 
strate against the hinding of them; and if necessary, 
to state that unless a remedy is applied, other books 
must be substituted for them in the schools." This 
Committee reported at the next meeting that they 
had attended to the duty, and the jDublishers had 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 165 

promised immediate improvement. On motion of 
Mr. S. H. Walley, the teachers were allowed to use 
Gallaudet's " Mother's Primer " for teaching the alpha- 
bet, by way of experiment, and requested to report 
to their District Committees their opinion of its 
value. 

The Secretary was directed to apply to the City 
Government for a suitable and safe depository in one 
of the public rooms of the city, for the books and 
other j)i"023erty belonging to the Primary Committee. 

The number of schools at this time was seventy- 
three, and the duties of the Secretaries of the Board 
and of the Standing Committee had become so ardu- 
ous, as to require great personal sacrifices on the part 
of the members who accepted those offices. Under 
these circumstances, the Board, at their first meet- 
ing in February, appointed a Committee, who, in 
May, presented a petition to the City Government 
for an appropriation of $200 per annum to compen- 
sate, in some degree, for the labor performed by these 
officers. While this petition was under consideration, 
the Board deferred electing a Secretary; and as it 
was not acted upon by the City Council, the records 
of the Board were made by Secretaries fro tern, dur- 
ing the entire year. 

1837. 

February 7. Notice of their appointment having 
been received, the Board was organized by the elec- 
tion of the following officers and Committees: 

Chairman — George W. Otis, Jr. 

Secretary — Joseph Curtis. 



166 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Standing Committee — Sam'l Tenney, Chairman; Fred- 
eric A. Sumner, Secretary ; George W. Otis, Jr., E. 
Weston, Jr., Gustavus Horton, George Rogers, A. A. 
Gould, J. B. Stebbins, E. W. Bayley. 

Committee of Conference — George W. Otis, Jr., F. A. 
Sumner, Josiah F. Bumstead. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, January 
31, " the Chairman communicated the resignation of 
Mr. John P. Bigelow, and also his best wishes for 
the success and prosperity of the Board." Dr. John 
Flint having also tendered his resignation, the Com- 
mittee nominated Mr. E. Weston, Jr., and Dr. J. B. 
Stebbins to the Board, to fill the vacancies occasioned 
by the resignation of Messrs. Bigelow and Flint. 

Mr. Bigelow was elected as a member of District No. 
6, in March, 1828, in which capacity he continued to 
act until his election to the Standins; Committee in 
January, 1829. From this time until his resignation, a 
period of nine years, he was a prompt, efficient, and 
valuable member of the Committee, having made dur- 
ing that time all of the Semi- Annual examinations and 
Eeports of the Districts assigned to him, besides a num- 
ber of interesting quarterly and other Reports of the 
Standino- Committee to the Board. 

May 2. The City Council having appropriated $100 
for the services of the Secretaries, Mr. Pray offered the 
following : " Voted, That the Secretary of this Board be 
authorized, in conformity with a vote of the City Coun- 
cil, to present, quarterly, to the proper authorities, a bill 
for $25, as payment for his services." The adoption of 
this vote being opposed, it was amended by the mover, 
so as to allow $60 per annum to the Secretary of the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 167 

■whole Board, and $40 per annum to the Secretary 
of the Standing Committee, and the vote was then 
adopted. 

Some dissatisfaction was expressed with the small 
amount appropriated by the City Council ; and on 
motion of Mr. Walley, " the Chairman of the Board 
was 'authorized to apply to the City Authorities for 
additional compensation for the Secretaries, whenever 
he may deem it expedient." 

The Standing Committee on School Books reported 
that they were unanimously in favor of a better book 
for the highest classes, and commended to the favorable 
notice of the Board, " The Mother's Primer," by Gallau- 
det. The report was accepted, and the Secretary was 
directed to procure a sufficient number of copies for 
the use of the schools. 

The Secretaries of tne Districts were requested to 
furnish the Secretary of the Board at least one month 
before each quarterly meeting, with a correct list of the 
names and residences of each member of their respect- 
ive Committees and teachers. 

In 1834, a Standing Committee on school-rooms was 
added to the organization of the Board ; but, although 
this Committee had, since that time, been annually 
elected, their specific duties had not been defined. In 
the early part of the present year, (1837,) a Committee 
was appointed to define the powers and duties of the 
Committee on school-rooms. Their report came up for 
consideration at the quarterly meeting, November 7, 
and after the adoption of sundry amendments, was 
accepted, and ordered to be incorporated into the Rules 
as Section I, Rule 7, of the Rules and Regulations of 



168 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

the Board. The duties thus defined remained unal- 
tered until the dissolution of the Board. 

The subject of school books having excited consider- 
able interest, from the difficulty experienced in obtain- 
ing those which were satisfactory in all respects, a 
special meeting of the Board was held, November 21, 
at which it was 

Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed by the 
Board to prepare or procure a Reading Book for the First 
Class in the Primary Schools ; and that they be instructed to 
give the preference, in their selections, to the Scriptures, and 
American authors; the book decided upon, or the selection 
made, to be subject to the approval of the Board before 
printing. 

Pending the consideration of this resolution, Mr. J. 
W. Ingraham offered the following as a substitute : 

Resolved, That a premium of five hundred dollars be 
offered to the author or compiler of the best series of 
School Books for use in the Primary Schools of this city; 
the copy-right to belong to this Committee ; or if the author 
prefer to retain the copy-right, that to be considered in lieu 
of the premium. 

After discussion the substitute was negatived, and 
the first resolution was adopted, and the Committee 
was appointed. This Committee reported at a sub- 
sequent meeting in favor of placing the subject in 
charge of the Standing Committee on school books ; 
and at their request, were excused from a further 
consideration of the subject. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 169 

1838. 

February 6. This being the annual meeting of the 
Board, it was organized as follows : 

Chairman — George W. Otis, Jr. 

Secretary — Joseph Curtis. 

Standing Committee — Richard W. Bayley, Chairman; 
F. A. Sumner, Secretary; George W. Otis, Jr., A. A. 
Gould, J. B. Stebbins, Francis Brown, George Eogers, 
J. F. Bumstead, J. W. Bourne. 

Committee of Conference — George W. Otis, Jr., F. A. 
Sumner, J. F. Blanchard. 

After the report of the Standing Committee had 
been read by Dr. J. B. Stebbins, the following vote was 
passed : "^ Voted, That Messrs. Pray, R. W. Bayley, Bum- 
stead, Cobb, Wales and Otis, be a Committee to con- 
sider and report upon the expediency of making it the 
duty of the Standing Committee to call together the 
teachers and members of the Board of the Primary 
Schools, Semi-Annually, in the week succeeding the 
meetings of the whole Board, in April and October of 
each year, for the purpose of communicating to them 
the Semi-Annual report and such other information 
as this Board may direct, or the Standing Committee 
m.ay think useful and necessary." 

The same Committee was instructed to inquire and 
report if any other method can be adopted in the Semi- 
Annual examinations of the schools, by which their 
condition may be improved, and a better knowledge 
obtained by the Board of their relative standing. 

An adjourned meeting was held, March 6, at which 
a report from the Committee on Books was made, re- 

22 



170 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

commending Abbott's " Mount Yernon Junior Eeader," 
for the Third and Second Classes, and " Pierpont's 
Young Reader," in place of " Blake's Reader," in the 
First Classes. The Secretary was also instructed to 
request the teachers and Committees of the several 
Districts to have these books introduced on the first 
Monday in May. 

On the 13th of March, the Committee, to whom was 
referred the expediency of Semi-Annual meetings of 
the teachers, to hear the reports of the Standing Com- 
mittee, made a report in favor, and recommended 
several additional sections to the Rules and Regula- 
tions, all of wdiich were adopted by the Board. As 
these meetings were a peculiar feature of the Primary 
School Board, we present a few extracts from the Com- 
mittee's Report, which will express their views and 
those of the Standing Committee, upon the subject: 

The object proposed is to open between the members of 
the Board and the teachers of the schools a more direct and 
constant communication, by "which they will become better 
acquainted with each other; there will be created between 
them a stronger sympathy in advancing the object they have 
mutually in view, viz., the improvement of the schools : and 
by communicating to the teachers, through the Standing Com- 
mittee, the doings of the Board, its Semi-Annual reports, the 
votes which are passed in relation to the duties of the teach- 
ers, and all other information appertaining to the wishes of 
the Committee or the wants of the schools, there will be a 
uniformity of feeling and action produced, which cannot fail 
to have the most salutary influence. 

To make these meetings effectual, two things are necessary, 
first, that all the teachers be present ; and secondly, that the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 171 

meetings be conducted in such a way that they shall be in- 
structive and useful. To accomplish the first purpose, it 
should be made the duty of all the teachers of the Primary 
Schools to attend these meetings. To secure this, it would 
be obviously inexpedient and improper to take their time on 
Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, or on any evening in 
the week, as it might be inconvenient or impracticable for 
them to attend. Your Committee, therefore, recommend that 
these meetings be held on Tuesday afternoons, and that the 
schools be dismissed for the purpose. As it will require but 
two afternoons in the year, they are of opinion that the time 
lost by the children will be more than compensated by the 
good that will accrue to the teachers. 

To accomplish the second purpose, that is, to render these 
meetings useful and instructive, it is proposed that it shall be 
the duty of the Standing Committee to call two meetings of 
the teachers on the second Tuesday afternoons of April and 
October, at some central and convenient place ; the teachers 
and members of the Board to be notified by the Secretary; 
and when assembled, the Standing Committee shall communi- 
cate to them the reports of the examinations of their schools. 
They shall also make known to the teachers and fully explain 
to them any votes passed by the Board, appertaining to their 
duties or expressive of its wishes in regard to any improve- 
ment which they may desire to efi"ect. The occasion may also 
be embraced, if time permits, for communications or addresses 
by themselves, or others invited by them, on the subject of 
education in general, or the improvements in study, discipline 
or modes of instruction. 



The same Committee reported in favor of the Stand- 
ing Committee being empowered and instructed to 
examine the schools by bringing together in succession 
the two highest classes of the schools in each District, 



172 ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 

for the purpose of comparing the proficiency of the 
classes in the several schools of a district with each 
other, and to ascertain their discipline and the con- 
dition of the lower classes, by subsequent visits to each 
of the schools. 

Heretofore, the First and Second Classes had been 
examined in their own school-rooms, which usually 
occupied a whole session for each of the schools, besides 
more or less of another session, which was required for 
the lower classes. The effect of this was to bring the 
examination of the schools at different times and in 
different states of the weather, by which, in the opinion 
of the District Committees and teachers, their classes 
were so affected as to receive, sometimes, a less favor- 
able report than their actual condition entitled them to. 

To obviate any feelings of this nature, and being 
authorized by a vote of the Board, the Standing Com- 
mittee decided to make their arrangements for the 
April examination, on the plan proposed. Accordingly, 
all the First Classes of the schools in each district 
were brought together in one of their school-rooms 
on a certain day selected by the examiner, and ex- 
amined in the presence of each other, and in the 
presence of their teachers and Local Committees. On 
a subsequent day, all the Second Classes were brought 
together, and examined in the same manner. The 
result of this course was, that a more accurate idea 
was obtained by the Examining Committee, of the 
relative proficiency of the several schools ; the teach- 
ers were enabled to compare the success of their own 
efforts with those of their associates ; the Committees 
had an opportunity to judge of the efficiency of their 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 173 

respective teachers, and it had a tendency to excite a 
laudable emulation among the teachers and the pupils, 
to the advantage of all the schools. This mode of 
examination having proved eminently successful, con- 
tinued to be practised until the close of the labors 
of the Board. 

Year after year, from the first establishment of 
these schools, the Primary Board had endeavored to 
obtain the necessary authority to admit to their schools 
those children who were more than seven years of age, 
and were not qualified to enter the Grammar Schools. 
Frequent appeals had been made to the Grammar 
School Committee, and to the City Council, all of which 
had proved unsuccessful, until, finally, after nearly 
twenty years unremitted efibrt, the following Order 
was passed by the City Council on the 22d of March, 
1838: 

Ordered, That the Primary School Committee be, and they 
are hereby, authorized to admit into one school, to be by 
them selected, in each of the school districts, any child who 
is more than seven years of age, and is not qualified for 
admission to the Grammar Schools. 

This order of the City Government was communi- 
cated to the Board by the City Clerk, at the quarterly 
meeting, May 1st, and was referred to a Committee, 
consisting of Messrs. Pray, Flint, Sumner, Gulliver and 
McBurney, to make the necessary arrangements to 
carry the same into effect. This Committee subse- 
quently reported, "that the object of these schools 
being only for the accommodation of those who, 
coming from abroad, or who, from misfortune or 



174 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

neglect, are excluded from the Grammar Schools on 
the ground of qualification, and from the Primary 
Schools on account of age, — they deem it unneces- 
sary to establish a school for special instruction in 
each of the districts ; and are of opinion that the 
formation of a school of this kind in each of the 
Districts Nos. 2, 5, 7, and 8, will be sufficient for the 
present time." 

When this order was first passed, it was supposed 
that there were about 700 children who were proper 
subjects for such schools ; but in November of the same 
year, there were 963 in the schools, or 13 per cent, of 
the whole number of scholars. 

This was the origin of our " Intermediate Schools," 
or *^ Schools for Special Instruction," which were subse- 
quently established in the several districts, with great 
advantage to the other schools. 

The Committee on Books were instructed to consider 
the expediency of furnishing each of the Primary 
Schools with a " Blackboard," and to report upon the 
proper mode of procuring and using it. The Chair- 
man of the Standing Committee was also requested 
to call upon the publisher of the "Mount Vernon 
Header," and ascertain the cause of the bad binding 
of many copies supplied to the schools. 

After the adjournment of the Board, the Standing 
Committee held a meeting, and appointed Messrs. 
Bayley and Brown as a Committee of Arrangements, 
in regard to the meeting of the Committee and 
teachers of the Primary Schools on the afternoon of 
Tuesday, May 8. This first semi-annual meeting of 
the teachers to hear the reports of the examinations 



ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 175 

of their schools, was accordingly held at the County 
Court House, (now occupied as the City Hall,) at 
which seventy-eight of the eighty-three teachers, and 
forty-two members of the Committee, were present. 
After the reports were read, several addresses were 
made by members of the Standing Committee, and 
other eminent friends of education. A highly favor- 
able report of this meeting was made to the Board 
at their meeting on the 18th of May; and from this 
time these meetings of the teachers were regularly 
held semi-annually, and have been always regarded 
as an interesting and important auxiliary in the im- 
provement of the schools. By invitation of the Stand- 
ing Committee, they were frequently attended by the 
Governors of the Commonwealth, and other State 
officers, — by the Mayors of our city, and those con- 
nected with the Municipal Government, — by the 
Secretaries and members of the Board of Education, 
and by the clergy and others, who, by their eloquent 
addresses and judicious advice, have often encouraged 
the hands and hearts of the Committee and teachers 
in their arduous work. 

We have now arrived at a point in the history of 
the Board, from which we may trace the commence- 
ment of the opposition, that finally resulted in the 
destruction of the Primary School organization. 

The Primary Board, as we have seen in the pre- 
ceding pages, were frequently called upon to exer- 
cise great judgment and discretion in regard to the 
many professed reforms which, under the specious 
name of " educational improvements," were being con- 



176 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

stantly pressed upon their attention. In the decision 
of these questions they were calm and deUberate, 
but firm in opposing all innovations which appeared 
unnecessary, or were incompatible with the general 
system which long experience had shown to be well 
adapted to its end. 

The official intercourse between the Grammar and 
Primary Boards had ever been characterized by a 
courtesy and regard for the duties and privileges of 
each other, which was highly honorable to both par- 
ties. We do not intend to imply that there had not 
been differences of opinion upon various matters, 
during the many years the Public Schools had been 
in the joint charge of the two Boards; for this could 
not be reasonably expected of two coordinate 
branches of government, whose duties were so inti- 
mately interwoven ; but, as in other similar cases, 
whenever the two Boards found that they entertained 
different views upon subjects affecting their schools 
or organization, it was referred to Committees of Con- 
ference, and by this means all differences were cour- 
teously considered, and were generally satisfactorily 
arranged. At this time, however, the Committee of 
Conference of the Grammar Board proposed to the 
Standing Committee of Conference of the Primary 
Board, the expediency of certain changes in regard 
to the latter organization, which were considered by 
them as too important for their action, and requiring 
the appointment of a Special Committee. For a proper 
understanding of this subject, it will be necessary for 
us to show its origin. 

In April, 1837, the Board of Education of the State 



ANNALS OF THE PRBLA.RY SCHOOLS. 177 

of Massachusetts was established by the Legislature, 
and it was organized in June of the same year. This 
Board consists of ten persons. The Governor and 
Lieutenant-Governor, for the time being, are ex officiis, 
members of the Board. In the act establishing the 
Board, they were required to appoint a Secretary, to 
" collect and diffuse information of the most approved 
and successful methods of arranging the studies, and 
conducting the education of the young, to the end 
that all children in the Commonwealth, who depend 
upon Common Schools for instruction, may have the 
best education which those schools can be made to 
impart." 

Li pursuance of these duties, the Secretary of the 
Board turned his attention to the Boston Public 
Schools, and appears to have succeeded in impressing 
upon the Grammar School Committee a portion of his 
spirit and independence as a radical and uncompro- 
mising reformer, which they, in turn, attempted to 
impress upon the Primary Board. Accordingly, the 
Grammar Board, through their Committee of Confer- 
ence, presented certain propositions, made by the 
Secretary of the Board of Education, to be considered 
by the Committee of Conference of the Primary Board, 
but the latter, justly regarding the subject beyond their 
province, brought the matter before the Primary Board 
at a special meeting, May 23, which resulted in the 
appointment of a Special Committee, consisting ofj 
Messrs. Pray, Wales, Bumstead, R "W. Bayley, Flint 
and Otis, into whose hands the whole subject was 
placed. As this Committee declined to confer, except 
with a Special Committee of the Grammar Board, the 

23 



178 ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 

Standing Committee of Conference of that body took 
umbrage, and insisted upon the Special Committee 
of the Primary Board conferring with them alone, 
as no other Committee would be appointed by the 
Grammar Board. The Committee declined a confer- 
ence thus dictated to them, and proceeded to make 
a report, on their own responsibility, which was sub- 
mitted to the Board, July 3, 1838. 

We regard this report as a very important document 
in our history, as it not only expresses the views of the 
Primary Board at that time, on several matters which 
have since been consummated by the Grammar School 
Committee and the City Council, but because we be- 
lieve that the same sentiments were entertained, and 
the same principles substantially endorsed by their suc- 
cessors on the Primary School Board. Under these cir- 
cumstances, it is with no little pride that we transcribe 
the clear and masterly manner in which the subjects 
were analyzed, and their fallacies exposed, by the Com- 
mittee, and their noble vindication of the faithful and 
valuable services of the members of the Board. 

The Committee, after stating for the reasons we have 
given, that this report is from necessity e:^; ]parte, pro- 
ceed as follows : 

The subject, as originally presented by the Secretary of 
the Board of Education, was simply that of adopting some 
plan in this city for " qualifying teachers to take charge of 
our Public Schools." In consultation, however, with that 
gentleman, it appears that he suggested to the Grammar 
School Committee " that a suitable person be engaged to 
visit regularly all the Primanj Schools ; to give the present 
teachers such assistance as they may desire in the discharge 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 179 

of their duties, and to hold himself ready to instruct and 
qualify a class of those persons who may desire to prepare 
themselves for the office of teachers." It further appears 
that the suggestion in this form met with the approbation 
of that Committee, — a suggestion which excluded their 
schools from any participation in the benefits to be derived 
from the plan ! In this stage of the case it would have 
seemed perfectly natural if that Committee had felt them- 
selves relieved from any further care of the matter, except, 
perhaps, to suggest through their Committee of Conference, 
to ours, the propriety of giving the subject a proper consider- 
ation. But they determined otherwise, and forthwith pro- 
ceeded to " unfold the details " of a plan for this Board, the 
germ of which had thus been brought under their cognizance. 

The plan, as unfolded by the Committee of the other 
Board, and upon which they ask a conference with us, is 
divided into two parts ; first, as to the agency, which the 
individual proposed to be appointed, was to have in assist- 
ing the teachers and relieving the Primary School Board 
of the duties devolving upon them ; and secondly, his duties 
in taking charge of a class of persons who may desire to 
become qualified for the situation of teachers. 

As for the first duty proposed for this agent, there is great 
in(^istinctness in the manner in which it is unfolded by the 
Committee. By a careful analysis of it, however, they are 
brought to the conclusion, that, as the Committee express 
the opinion, that " most of our teachers enter upon the office 
with very little experience ov preparation ;'" and as they are 
represented to be " very grateful for every exertion that is 
made to render their labors more easy and more effective," it 
is the intention of the Committee that this agent, if appointed, 
shall go into all our Primary Schools, and impart instruction 
there to all oii,r teachers. We infer this, because if our teach- 
ers, as there asserted, have little preparation before they 
enter upon their duties, they require additional instruction 



180 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

somewhere; and their proposition is, not that they should 
visit him, or receive instruction at his school, but that he 
should visit all the Primary Schools, and give the present 
teachers such assistance as they may desire in the discharge 
of their duties, so as to render their labors more easy and 
more effective. Your Committee regret the indistinctness 
with which this proposition is shadowed forth in the report. 
But if they have divined its true import, they are prepared 
to say to this feature of the plan, there are numerous and 
fatal objections. They need not be given in detail. It will 
be sufficient only to name them ; and the first objection is, 
the interruption which such an agency would constantly be 
to the regular instruction of the schools. The second is, that 
it would lead to repeated experiments of new methods of 
instruction, which could not be sufficiently understood, when 
acquired under such circumstances ; and the consequence 
would be, that their schools would suffer more by the new 
methods, though better, than by the use of the old methods, 
though not so good ; but with which the teachers were per- 
fectly familiar. The third is, that it would lessen the respect 
of the pupils for their teachers, when they should find that, 
like themselves, they were the subjects of instruction ; and 
lastly, that there would be constant danger that this agent 
would come in conflict with the opinions and requirements 
of the Committees of the several schools, which would not 
only perplex the teachers, but increase their labors and 
anxieties, and do more harm than any good that could "be 
effected for the schools by this measure. 

But there is another aspect in which this part of the 
proposition is to be regarded that calls for still more par- 
ticular consideration. It would seem as if by this arrange- 
ment, it was the intention of the Committee who made the 
report, now under consideration, to substitute, if they could, 
the labors of this person or agent^ for the labors of the 
Primary School Committee. This is ,the direct inference 



ANNALS OF THE PEIMAKY SCHOOLS. 181 

from the language of the report, which is, " It may be urged 
that the necessity of such an appointment is superseded by 
the establishment of the Primary School Committee, whose 
duty it is to visit the schools, and direct and superintend 
their progress. We reply, that the schools are so numerous 
as to demand, in our opinion, nearly the whole time of a 
single individual." That is, if there is any force in language, 
it is made the duty of the Primary School Committee " to 
visit their schools, direct and superintend their progress ; " 
but, as these schools are so numerous that the ninety gen- 
tlemen who are the Committee, either cannot, or do not, take 
care of them, therefore, in their opinion, they require nearly 
the whole time of one individual for the express purpose. 
We are fortified in this opinion by another circumstance, to 
which we would now advert. In the March number of the 
" Annals of Education," there appeared a gross and false 
attack upon the character and management of the Primary 
Schools, and upon the character and fidelity of the Primary 
School Committee. In this article, after many misrepresent- 
ations of the condition of our school-rooms, and of the 
neglect of the Committee in this respect, — of our books, 
studies and the moral culture of our pupils, — we have the 
following language : " We have heard of late that it is in 
contemplation, of so7ne, to secure the appointment of a sort 
of City Missionary of Instruction, whose office it shall be to 
inspect minutely all schools, in all their circumstances, and 
report respecting the same to the proper authority ; " and 
this, especially, on account of the Primary Schools. Now, 
in the proposed appointment, we have the identical City 
Missionary of Instruction, whose creation and agency is 
supposed to be necessary, because of the neglect of the 
Primary School Board. 

By this means an opportunity is afibrded us for the first 
time to meet these accusations in an official manner, and give 
them the answer they require. It is only necessary to allude 



182 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

to what this Committee has done ia past years, to show, 
not only their general fidelity, but that no agent, however 
talented or efficient, could possibly perform the duty which 
is required of the gentlemen who compose this Board j and 
what is of still more consequence to the city, that there can 
be no necessity for the appointment of such a salaried agency, 
when the work can be as well or better done by the responsi- 
ble, intelligent, and gratuitous labors of a voluntary Commit- 
tee. We say this with the less reserve, as the praise will 
mainly be upon those who are now serving the public in other 
spheres of action, or on those who have gone to their final 
award — the Ticknors, the Savages, the Wells, the Grants, 
the Tappans, the Parkmans, the Blanchards, the Hales, the 
Emersons, and others, who, in previous years, have been the 
active and efficient members of the Board. 

In the first place, then, what have this Committee done in 
respect to the procurement of suitable school-rooms? A 
single glance at their records will give ample proof of their 
fidelity and vigilance. From 1818, when the schools were 
first organized, to 1827, the whole work of selecting, hiring 
and furnishing these rooms, was the business of the District 
Committees. At this period, when the whole number thus 
obtained was fifty, an increasing difficulty was felt in obtain- 
ing rooms of a proper size, and of convenient location. A 
Committee was therefore raised by the whole Board to repre- 
sent to the City Government the serious evils resulting from 
the want of suitable rooms, and praying that measures might 
be adopted to remedy the difficulty. This application was 
not successful. In 1828, another memorial was presented to 
the City Government, for an annual appropriation of $3,000, 
for the erection of Primary School-houses ; but that body was 
not yet prepared to recognize the principle of erecting houses 
for the use of these schools. This application, however, 
resulted in a vote authorizing the Committee to hire a suitable 
number of rooms on leases of ten years ; the city, and not the 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 183 

teacher as before, being responsible for the rent. This power 
was used with great alacrity by the Committee, and to great 
advantage, so that a large number of better rooms were 
obtained. But finding this insufficient for their purpose, they 
memorialized again in 1829, that "■ school-rooms should be 
purchased or built on account of the city;" but the city 
authorities still had doubts of the policy of erecting build- 
ings for this purpose, and the application again failed. From 
this time till 1833, we have the record of frequent applica- 
tions to the City Government for the use of rooms, not other- 
wise improved, such as the unoccupied rooms in Grammar 
School-houses, gun-houses, engine-houses, and ward-rooms. 
By this means, and the use of vestries in churches, their most 
pressing wants were supplied, and the schools for the most 
part were well accommodated. But as the schools were con- 
stantly increasing, and the difficulty of obtaining rooms be- 
came greater every day, on account of the increased value of 
property, the Board, in August, 1833, made another applica- 
tion to the city by a Committee of ten, " for an appropriation 
of money for the purpose of building and furnishing rooms 
for the accommodation of Primary Schools, whenever suitable 
opportunities may offer in any of the Districts." This appli- 
cation was supported by all the influence of the Board, both 
without and within the Council; and in 1834, they recognized 
the principle, and erected one house at the expense of the 
city. In 1835, an appropriation of $12,500 was made, which 
it was understood was to be set apart for this purpose, until 
all the schools should be suitably provided for. This sum has 
been so appropriated and expended for this purpose every 
year, with the exception of one, until of the eighty-two 
schools, there are only a few remaining which need better 
rooms. And the Committee are prepared to say that the 
rooms occupied by our Primary Schools have at all times 
been equal to, and will now compare advantageously, with 
those used by any city in the United States. In view of 



184 ANNALS OF THE PKIMAUY SCHOOLS. 

these facts, they would ask if this is such a kind of neglect 
that a special and salaried agent is required to supply their 
deficiencies; or if one were appointed, he could do more, 
or better? 

So with regara to books. When these schools were first 
established, few or no books had been published suitable for 
children from four to seven years of age. A card, a small 
spelling book, and the New Testament were the books origi- 
nally used. Soon after, at the solicitation of the Board, a 
new spelling book was prepared by Mr. W. B. Fowle, and 
the " Rational Gruide " was introduced. In 1826, an "Easy 
Reader " was compiled expressly for this Board by Mrs. 
Nathan Hale, (Governor Everett's sister,) called the "Boston 
Primary Lessons," which was introduced with a new spell- 
ing book, adapted to their use, by Mr. Lee, in the place of 
Fowle's, which had been found too difficult. In the same 
year, the study of arithmetic was introduced for the First 
Class, and "Emerson's North American Arithmetic " adopted. 
In 1827, a new elementary card was introduced; and in 
1830, another on the Edinburgh Sessional School plan was 
prepared by a Committee of the Board, and adopted. In 
1833, a new reading book, " Blake's Reader," for the First 
Class, in connexion with the New Testament, was introduced. 
Since which, Arithmetic in all the classes, a Numerical Calcu- 
lator, Slates for the Fourth Class, Gallaudet's Mother's 
Primer, Abbott's New Reading Books, and Pierpont's Young 
Reader, have been added to the number of books and the 
means of instruction in these schools. 

Now these are facts hastily gleaned from our records, in 
relation to this branch of the subject ; and your Committee 
would confidently ask if these are such evidences of neglect, 
as to require a special agent to increase their number or im- 
prove their character ? 

It is the same with regard to studies. The Committee 
have always regarded these schools as strictly preparatory to 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 185 

our Grammar Schools, and have uniformly acted upon the 
principle, that the studies provided for in the books above 
named, were amply sufficient for a class of pupils from four to 
seven years of age. They find them, upon comparison, quite 
equal in all respects to those in the schools of New York, or 
those in the celebrated schools of Prussia, for children from 
six to eight years of age ; and quite suificient to qualify them 
for admission to our next higher grade of schools. It is 
notorious, indeed, and has been so for years, that the pupils 
of the Primary Schools lose ground after entering the 
Grammar Schools, as the studies of the latter are not in 
advance of the former. As a proof of this, we have the tes- 
timony of one of the grammar masters, who, in answer to a 
recent circular from the Grammar School Committee, uses the 
following language : Many of the pupils offered from the Pri- 
mary Schools are well qualified to take a higher rank in the 
Grammar Schools than the lowest divisions of those schools ; 
and arc to be considered as better capable to study the 
higher branches than those divisions." This is confirmed in 
a difierent way, by another of those teachers, who says : 
" Generally speaking, however, I must do the teachers of the 
Primary Schools the justice to acknowledge that the children 
that come from those schools, are, for the most part, better 
tauorht in the rudiments than those of the same as-e, who 
come from private schools, or from the country." Another 
of these masters proffers the following testimony, which will 
speak for itself: ''In conclusion, I must do the schools the 
justice to say, that, judging by the children, who come from 
them to the Hancock School, and by my recent visits to them, 
' they appear to be admirably conducted, and to stand in no 
need of any change important enough to be called a reform. 
The discipline appears to be excellent, and the children seem 
to be perfectly happy." Your Committee do not mean to be 
understood by these remarks, that they consider these schools 
as by any means perfect ; or that these grammar masters, in 

24 



186 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

other parts of their communications, do not speak of defi- 
ciencies and faults that need correction ; but they do mean 
to ask, with such opinions before them, as it regards the 
general results of our labors, coming from those who may 
be considered as impartial witnesses, whether it is probable 
that the appointing of an agent to supersede the Primary 
School Board, will produce better results than has been, and 
is now obtained. 

There is one other portion of their duties to which it is 
necessary to advert for a single moment. It is made the 
duty of the Primary School Committee to " visit the schools 
and "superintend their progress." In the discharge of this 
duty the Rules require a monthly examination of one school 
from each member of the Board. In recurring to one of our 
latest reports, we find those examinations for six months, or 
one half a year, to have been three hundred and forty-nine, or 
about seven hundred for one year. Besides these examina- 
tions, which usually occupy from one to two hours each, there 
wore made to the schools by the several District Committees, 
four hundred and forty-seven visits, or about nine hundred in 
a year, giving an average of seven examinations and eleven 
visits to each school per annum. Besides these, there are the 
Semi-Annual examinations of the Standing Committee, who 
give two or three hours to each school twice a year, occupy- 
ing the best portion of eighty days annually. Suppose this 
agent to be appointed, what would be the result in this one 
particular ? A slight calculation will make it apparent. 
After deducting Sabbath days, Wednesday and Saturday 
afternoons, and vacation days, it will appear that the schools 
are kept about two hundred and thirty-six days in a year. 
Let this agent then visit and examine these schools every day 
in the year, and both parts. of the day, when they are kept, so 
as to occupy his whole time ; and the total number of his 
examinations could only be four hundred and seventy-two, in 



ANNALS OP THE PRMARY SCHOOLS. 187 

contrast with seven Imndred, now made by the Committee, — 
which number is independent of their ordinary visits, and the 
thorough examinations of the Standing Committee. We say 
nothing now of the advantage of a Local Committee, who it 
may be, is a parent to some of the children, or a neighbor 
to all ; we say nothing now of the necessity of having a Com- 
mittee, whose residences are near the schools, with whom the 
teachers can advise in any case of a difficulty; we say 
nothing of the influence of such a Committee with the whole 
community in giving confidence to the public in the system 
they support; wc only state these simple, undeniable facts 
drawn from public documents, and ask whether there can 
be a necessity for the creation of such an office, or the 
appointment of such an agent, the effect of which, if not 
intended to supersede their labors, would be to paralyze 
their efforts, to produce an apathy, and to render their 
office apparently a nominal, if not a useless one. 

Your Committee entertaining an undoubting assurance 
of the willingness and fidelity of the members of tlie Board 
to perform the duty assigned them in time to come, as in 
time past, answer, without any hesitation, in the negative. 

It now remains for them very briefly to consider the 
second part of the proposition, in relation to a Normal 
School. The idea of a Normal School, or a school for 
qualifying teachers, is rather a new one to this commu- 
nity. They have been established, however, in other coun- 
tries, especially in Prussia and France, with success and 
advantage ; and there is no reason to doubt that their estab- 
lishment in this country would be attended with correspond- 
ing good results. They are intended to make the business 
of school-keeping as much of a profession as that of law, 
medicine, or theology, and a peculiar course of study as neces- 
sary to its successful practice, as either of those. We, there- 
fore, express the hope that the Secretary of the Board of 
Education may be enabled to establish one or more of these 



188 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

schools in the State, so as to test satisfactorily their practi- 
cal utility. But whether it is necessary or expedient for this 
city, in her municipal character, to establish or maintain such 
an institution at her own expense, as your Committee do not 
understand that any portion of the legislative provision or 
fund for this purpose will be appropriated for the use of 
this city, is a question upon which this Committee are not 
called upon to express an opinion. For themselves, as a 
Board, they are not prepared to entertain or carry forward 
such a proposition; but if the other School Committee, or 
any of the city authorities, sliall deem it expedient to estab- 
lish such an institution, they are ready to proffer them any 
aid which it is in their power to give." ->?•*** 

This report and the accompanying resolutions, which 
embodied the views and sentiments expressed in the 
report, were adopted by the Board at a special meet- 
ing, held July 3, 1838, and we do not find that any 
further action was taken by the Grammar Board upon 
these subjects at that time. 

In pursuance of an idea which had been suggested 
by the Standing Committee, the Primary Boards, at this 
time, established a " Model School," for the j^urpose 
of trying experiments in Primary School instruction. 
This school was placed in charge of a Special Com- 
mittee, who, after due deliberation, and with reference 
"■ to the size of the room, its central situation, and the 
character of its teacher," selected the school in District 
No. 4, kept in the Derne street school-house, by Miss 
Mary Torrin, -This school was continued with varied 
success until 1842, when it was abandoned, as not 
having proved so advantageous to the schools as had 
been anticipated. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS 189 

A vote was also passed, authorizing the division of 
any district by the District Committee, when the same 
shall contain more than nine schools. 



1839. 

March 5. The list of members of the Committee, 
appointed by the Grammar School Board, was read 
by the Secretary, and he was instructed to place the 
same on file. The Board then proceeded to ballot 
for a Chairman, which resulted in the choice of Mr. 
JosiAH F. BuMSTEAD. Mr. Bumstead having; declined 
serving, George W. Otis, Jr., was elected Chairman^ 
and Joseph Curtis was reelected Secretary. 

Standing Committee — R. "W. Bayley, Chairman; F. A. 
Sumner, Secretary ; George Rogers, J. F. Bumstead, 
George W. Otis, Jr., Augustus A. Gould, J. B. Steb- 
bins, Francis Brown, J. W. Bourne, Samuel McBurney. 

Committee of Conference — George W. Otis, Jr., F. A. 
Sumner, J. F. Bumstead. 

Among other business acted upon at this meeting, 
a Resolution was adopted, " That when any school shall 
have remained for a considerable time, with a smaller 
number of pupils than it can accommodate, the cause 
shall be made a particular subject of inquiry by the 
District Committee, and a remedy applied, either by 
changing its location or its teacher." 

At the quarterly meeting of the Board, June 4, 
the Committee on Books reported in favor of intro- 
ducing "My First School Book," prepared expressly 
as a spelling book, for the Third and Fourth Classes, 
by Josiah F. Bumstead, which was adopted, and ordered 



190 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

to be used, instead of the '' Mother's Primer," in those 
classes. 

A petition of Samuel P. Scott and others, to have 
sewing and knitting taught in the Public Schools, was 
referred by the Grammar School Committee to this 
Board, and after being read, was referred to the Stand- 
ing Committee, who subsequently reported that it was 
unnecessary to take any action on the subject, as these 
branches of domestic education were already attended 
to in the Primary Schools. 

The efforts of those who desired to supersede the 
labors of the Primary School Committee, by the 
appointment of a Superintendent, not having accom- 
plished their object through the intervention of the 
Grammar Board, appear to have brought the sub- 
ject before the Common Council. Upon learning this, 
the Primary Board unanimously adopted the follow- 
ing preamble and vote, viz. : 

Whereas, the subject of the organization of the Primary- 
School Board, and other matters relating thereto, have been 
referred to a Committee of the City Council; and whereas, 
the said Committee may desire to communicate with this 
Board, in an official manner, on the subject matter of their 
appointment ; and whereas, this Board is solicitous to facili- 
tate, in every proper way, the labors of that Committee; 
therefore, 

Voted, That Messrs. Pray, Hartshorn, Bumstead and Otis, 
be a Committee to confer and communicate in the most 
ample and free manner, with the aforesaid Committee of 
the Council, if desired, on all the subjects appertaining to 
their appointment, and all others which may be brought 
under consideration in connection with the accountability, 
proceedings and duties of this Committee. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 191 



1840. 

The regular quarterly meeting was held, March 3, 
and the members of the Board havmg been notified 
of their appointment, they proceeded to organize their 
body by the choice of officers and Committees for the 
current year. 

Chairman — Eichard "VY. Batley. 

Secretary — Joseph Curtis. 

Standing Committee — Josiah F. Bumstead, Chairman; 
Frederic A. Sumner, Secretary ; K. "W. Bayley, Francis 
Brown, Wm. D. Ticknor, Edmund Jackson, J. B. Steb- 
bins, Samuel McBurney, J. W. Bourne, Wm. P. Jarvis. 

Committee of Conference — R. W. Bayley, F. A. Sum- 
ner, J. F. Bumstead. 

The thanks of the Board were presented to Dr. 
George W. Otis, Jr., " for the able and satisfactory man- 
ner in which he had discharged the duties of Chair- 
man of the Board for several years." 

It was also ^'^ Voted, That the Standing Committee 
be authorized to make arrangements for furnishing the 
teachers of the Primary Schools with instruction in 
vocal music, provided it can be done without expense." 

In conformity with this vote, the Standing Commit- 
tee appointed a Sub-Committee to confer with Mr. 
Lowell Mason on this subject, and make the necessary 
arrangements for carrying the same into effect. This 
Sub-Committee reported, April 28, that the conference 
with Mr. Mason was favorable to the project ; that they 
had accordingly sent a circular to the teachers, and that 
two meetings had already been held, which had been 



192 AJ^NALS OF THE PRLMARY SCHOOLS. 

attended by about two-thirds of the teachers connected 
with the Primary Schools. 

By a vote of the Board, September 1, " the Stand- 
ing Committee was directed to confer with the Mayor 
on the subject of providing each of the Primary 
Schools with a Blackboard ; and if necessary, to peti- 
tion the City Council for an appropriation to accom- 
plish the same." 

The same Committee were also authorized to apply 
to the Common Council for the use of their room 
in the City Hall, for the future meetings of the Pri- 
mary Board. This request was granted, and the next 
meeting, September 15, was held in that place. 

A petition of sundry inhabitants of Section 1, East 
Boston, for the establishment of a new school in that 
section, having been sent to the Standing Committee ; 
and there appearing to be good reasons for another 
school, they recommended to the whole Board that 
a new school be established agreeably to the tenor 
of the petition. 

In October, the teacher in school No. 2, East Boston, 
having left the care of her school to a substitute, who 
was reported as unqualified, the Standing Committee 
appointed their Secretary to investigate the circum- 
stances; and upon his report the teacher and substi- 
tute were both discharged, and another teacher elected. 

1841. 

At a meeting of the Grammar Board, January 12, 
the members of the Primary School Committee were 
appointed, and at their regular quarterly meeting, 
March 2, the Board was organized as follows : 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 193 

CJmirman — Richard H. Bayley. 

Secretary — Joseph Curtis. 

Standing Committee — J. F. Bumstead, Chairman; F. A. 
Sumner, Secretary ; R "W. Bayley, W. D. Ticknor, S. 
McBurney, W. P. Jar vis, Alvan Sinionds, A. D. Par- 
ker, Samuel Wheeler, George Bemis. 

The Committee of Conference were all reelected. 

Mr. Lewis G. Pray having sent in his resignation to 
the Board at this meeting, the following preamble and 
resolutions were adopted as a just tribute to his devoted 
services, for the interest of the Primary Schools, for 
nearly twenty years : 

Whereas, this Board is notified of the resignation of Lewis 
G. Pray, Esq., who has so long and so faithfully discharged 
his duties in the several departments of this Board, 

Resolved, That in view of his past services, the Board 
cannot part with Mr. Pray without expressing to him their 
strong and deep sense of obligation, as well for themselves 
as for the community at large, for his untiring, benevolent 
and efiicient exertions in the cause which this Board has for 
its object to forward. 

Resolved, That while we wish to make no invidious distinc- 
tions, we know of no one to whom the Primary School sys- 
tem in this city is more largely indebted for its present 
advancement and completeness than to Mr. Pray; and that, 
in losing him, the Primary Schools have lost a long-tried and 
faithful friend. 

Resolved, That the Secretary forward to Mr. Pray a copy of 
these resolutions, and transcribe the same on the record book 
of the Board. 

The Grammar School Committee having extended 
the June vacation of their schools, a special meeting of 
the Primary Board was held, May 21, to consider the 



194: ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

expediency of making their vacations correspond with 
those granted to the Grammar Schools. After con- 
siderable discussion, it was decided that any increase 
in the vacations of the Primary Schools was inexpe- 
dient, and the whole subject was indefinitely postponed. 

At a special meeting, June 15, a Committee reported 
in favor of giving the reports of the Standing Commit- 
tee a more permanent form ; and Messrs. Bayley, Bum- 
stead, Ingraham, Marvin and Flint, were appointed " a 
Committee to collect and put into substantial binding, 
all the reports of the Standing Committees, (and of the 
District Committees,) and all other reports and papers 
connected with the Board, which, in their judgment, it 
is desirable thus to preserve." The same Committee 
were " instructed to request from the City Government 
a suitable place of deposit for the safe keeping of the 
various records, reports, &c., belonging to the Board, 
which are not of immediate use." 

The Semi- Annual Report of the Standing Committee, 
compiled from the reports of the teachers, and of the 
District Committees, was prepared and read by Mr. 
James B. Dow, at the quarterly meeting, September 7. 
Mr. Dow also offered a resolution, that the teachers be 
permitted to use the spelling book prepared by Mr. 
Bumstead, entitled, " Spelling and Thinking Combined," 
as a substitute for "Lee's Spelling Book," which was 
referred to the Committee on School Books, who re- 
ported, at an adjourned meeting, September 21, in favor 
of its adoption in the First and Second Classes, and 
that it be introduced into the schools immediately after 
the ensuing semi-annual examination. 

This report was accepted, and the recommendations 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 195 

adopted. At this meeting a vote was adopted, by 
which the schools at East Boston was constituted a sep- 
arate district, and were authorized to he organized 
under the name of District 11. Up to this time the 
schools at East Boston had been under the special 
charge of the Standing Committee, by whom the 
teachers and Local Committees were chosen. 

At the opening of the quarterly meeting, December 
7, the Chairman announced the decease of Mr. Joseph 
Curtis, late Secretary of the Board, and paid a feeling 
tribute to his worth ; and on motion of Mr. Marvin, 
the following votes were unanimously adopted : 

Voted, That this Board deeply sympathize with the be- 
reaved family of our late Secretary, Mr. Joseph Curtis, and 
would cheerfully and unanimously express our feelings of 
regret that we have been deprived of his services, which we 
were happy to testify, were always promptly, unremittingly 
and faithfully rendered. 

Voted, That the above be communicated to the family of 
Mr. Curtis, by the Secretary. 

The Board then elected Mr. Alvan Sevionds as 
Secretary. 

1842. 

The Board was appointed January 11, and on the 
1st of March was organized as follows : 

Chairman — R. W. Bayley. 

Secretary — Alvan Simonds. 

Standing Omnmittee — J. F. Bumstead, Chairman ; F. 
A. Sumner, Secretary ; R. W. Bayley, S. McBurney, 
William P. Jarvis, Alvan Simonds. A. D. Parker, James 



196 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

B. Dow, George Bemis, Joseph "W. Ingraham, Otis A. 
Skinner. 

The Committee of Conference were all reelected. 

The Serai-Annual Report of the Standing Committee 
was made by Mr. Ingraham, June 7, which was recom- 
mitted to the Standing Committee for revision and con- 
densation, and subsequently accepted by the Board at 
an adjourned meeting, June 10. At this adjourned 
meeting it was " Voted, That the thanks of the Board be 
presented to Mrs. Minot, (lady of William Minot, Esq.,) 
for her generous and disinterested services in giving a 
series of lessons on drawing to the teachers of the Pri- 
mary Schools." This tribute of respect, on the part of 
the Board, was worthily bestowed upon a lady, who, for 
two hours a week, for three months, had freely devoted 
her time and talents to the instruction of the teachers 
in an interesting branch of education. 

By a vote of the Board, September 6, the vacations 
in the Primary Schools were made to conform with 
those in the Grammar Schools. 

September 20. The Chairman reported, verbally, that 
the Committee appointed, June 15, 1841, to procure of 
the city authorities a room for the deposit of the books 
and papers of the Board, had obtained the room form- 
erly occupied by the Directors of the House of Refor- 
mation in the City Hall. Mr. Ingraham, from the same 
Committee, reported that some progress had been made 
in collecting the papers and reports from the various 
districts, and asked for further time, which was granted. 

It aj^pears, however, that this duty was never com- 
pleted ; and it is probable that the Committee found it 
impossible to collect a perfect file of the papers and 



ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 197 

reports ; and after making the collection as complete 
as they could, they seem to have abandoned the 
undertaking. 

The schools had been gradually increasing in num- 
ber, and the labors of the Standing Committee as 
steadily becoming more and more arduous, until it 
became necessary that some relief should be obtained ; 
as the number of members of the Standing Committee 
was limited by the number of districts, several attempts 
had been made to increase the number, but without 
success. 

In August, 1841, the Standing Committee, on motion 
of Wm. D. Ticknor, appointed a Sub-Committee to con- 
sider and report upon some plan of relief The subject 
was frequently discussed by the Standing Committee, 
and finally resulted in a recommendation to the Board 
to divide the schools into seventeen districts. This was 
presented to the Board at their meeting, September 20, 
1842, by the Chairman of the Standing Committee, and 
the following votes were passed : 

Voted, That Districts Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8, meet and 
divide themselves, each into two districts, as nearly equal in 
the number of schools as possible, and organize themselves 
by the choice of a Chairman and Secretary of each district, 
renumbering the schools, and report the same to the Secre- 
tary of the Standing Committee, on or before the third Tues- 
day in October next. 

Voted, That the Standing Committee, after receiving these 
reports, proceed to number the districts, beginning with the 
north part of the city, and proceeding to the south. 

The Standing; Committee then made a nomination 
of six members of their body for the new districts, 



198 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

and Lewis G. Pray, Aaron Orclway, Wm. Dall, Lemuel 
Capen, Nathan Metcalf, Jr., and Frederic A. Eddy, were 
chosen. 

Mr. Pray, however, declined to accept, and the Stand- 
ing Committee requested Dr. John Odin, Jr., to examine 
District No. 17, and to make the abstract of the several 
reports for the use of the Board. These duties were 
performed in a manner so acceptable, that after the 
adoption of the report by the Board, at the quarterly 
meeting in December, it was "Voted, Thsit the thanks 
of the Board be presented to Dr. John Odin, Jr., for 
the able manner in which he has discharged the duty 
of preparing the semi-annual report." 

At the request of the Grammar School Committee, 
the Board authorized District No. 3 to establish a new 
school for colored children. 

1843. 

The members of the Primary Board having been 
notified of their appointment by the Grammar School 
Committee, January 10, held their annual meeting for 
the organization of the Board, March 7, and the follow- 
ing officers were unanimously reelected : 

Chairman — Eichard W. Bayley. 

Secretary/ — Alvan Simonds. 

Standing Committee — J. F. Bumstead, Chairman; F. 
A. Sumner, Secretary ; S. McBurney, Alvan Simonds, 
James B. Dow, Otis A. Skinner, W. P. Jarvis, A. D. 
Parker, R. W. Bayley, George Bemis, I. W. Ingraham, 
Lemuel Capen, John Odin, Jr., Wm. Dall, Nathan Met- 
calf Jr., Aaron Ordway, Frederic A. Eddy. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 199' 

The Committee on Conference were also reelected. 

The Chairman reported, that under a vote of the 
Board, December 6, 1842, the Committee appointed to 
apply to the City Government for an appropriation to 
furnish each of the Primary Schools with a clock, had 
held a consultation with some members of the City 
Council, and that the Committee deemed it inexpedient 
for the Board to make the application at the present 
time. 

By an act of the Legislature, passed March 3, 1842, 
the sum of $15 was appropriated to every school dis- 
trict in the Commonwealth, to be expended in books, 
for a School District Library ; provided that there should 
be raised or appropriated a similar sum in each school 
district for the same object, by the cities or towns in 
which the districts were located. But, in the city of 
Boston and some others of the cities and towns, the 
schools were not divided into districts, so as to receive 
any advantage from this appropriation by the State ; 
and to obviate this, the act of March 3, 1842, was 
amended, by extending the provisions of this act in 
such a manner as to give as many times fifteen dollars 
to every such city or town as the number sixty is con- 
tained, exclusive of fractions, in the number of children 
between the ages of four and sixteen years in said city 
or town, on condition that an equal sum be raised by 
the town or city. 

This amendment was passed March 7, 1843, and on 
the 14th of the same month, the Primary Board ap- 
pointed Messrs. Ingraham, Snelling and Bumstead, a 
Committee to take into consideration this law of the 
Commonwealth, in relation to school libraries, and 



200 ANNALS OF THE PRIiMARY SCHOOLS. 

authorizing them to communicate with the City Gov- 
ernment in relation to this law, in connection with 
the Primary Schools. It appears, however, that no 
appropriation was made by the City Council, which 
was necessary to secure to the schools a participation 
in this bounty of the State ; and we believe that no 
advantage accrued to our schools from any of the 
acts passed by the Legislature, for the encourage- 
ment of school libraries, although a second amend- 
ment was passed March 25, 1845, with special reference 
to this subject, in connection with the several grades 
of schools in Boston. 

At the quarterly meeting, March 14, a communica- 
tion was received from His Honor the Mayor, (Martin 
Brimmer,) stating that one hundred copies of a book 
entitled, "The School and the Schoolmaster," were 
at the order of the Board for distribution among the 
Primary Schools. It being understood that these books 
were a present from the Mayor, on motion of Mr. B. P. 
Kichardson, the thanks of the Board were tendered to 
Mr. Brimmer for his liberal and acceptable donation. 
The Board also " Voted, That after having the number 
of the school and district stamped upon the covers, 
one copy should be sent by the Secretary to each mem- 
ber of the Board, to be deposited and kept in their 
several schools; and that the Chairman or Secretary 
of the Board supply every new school established 
during the present year with a copy of the "School 
and Schoolmaster," bound and lettered in the same 
manner. 

The subject of proper books for the several classes, 
had for a long time earnestly engaged the attention 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 201 

of the Standing and Book Committees, nnder whose 
direction several had been specially prepared and suc- 
cessfully introduced into the schools. It was, however 
desirable that more order and system should be intro- 
duced into the classification and arrangement of all 
the books ; and after a careful examination of the 
various books which had been specially prepared for 
the use of Primary Schools, the Book Committee, 
through Dr. Henry G. Clark, presented their report 
to the Board, December 5, from which we select the 
following remarks, defining the views of the Commit- 
tee, and their reasons for recommending a change in 
the books : 

In pursuance with their duty, the Committee have been 
particularly struck with the want of adaptation of several 
of the books to accomplish the purposes for which they 
were designed. These your Committee understand to be, 
to furnish an easy, systematic and certain means for giving 
to pupils of from four to seven years of age, [by the aid 
of competent teachers,] such an acquaintance with the 
printed characters of our language, so that in its simpler 
combinations they shall be able to read it with a good 
degree of distinctness, readiness and propriety. We do 
not understand that the design of primanj instruction is 
to teach the principles of natural or moral science, nor do 
we believe it to be proper or expedient to furnish to these 
young and immature minds elaborate treatises upon the 
structure of language, accompanied with a full set of expres- 
sional arbitrary signs, a knowledge of which is as difficult 
to acquire and retain as that of the twenty-six letters of 
the alphabet. 

26 



202 ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 

The Committee, after a critical examination of the 
merits of the books, prepared by six different authors 
for Primary Schools, conclude their report in favor 
of those prepared by Mr. Josiah F. Bumstead. Of 
these books, the Committee say: 

But by far the best books which we have examined, are 
the concluding numbers of a series of " Reading Books for 
the Primary Schools," prepared by a member of this Board, 
whose experience, taste and good judgment well qualify him 
for a task he has so ably accomplished. These books are 
intended for the use of the First and Second Classes, and 
are a continuation of the books, some time since introduced 
into the Third and Fourth. They do not contain, as do some 
of the other books named in this report, pages of labored 
disquisition upon the art of reading, spelling and pronounc- 
ing the English language , but they do what is much better, — 
teach by good examples, — practice instead of preach. The 
lessons are thoroughly digested, and adopted from the best 
sources. There is a unity and simplicity in the gradations 
from simple to diflScult, which is admirable. The lessons and 
chapters are judiciously arranged for every-day use, the selec- 
tions are of the most interesting and excellent character, and 
the mechanical execution, in paper, printing, and binding, is 
of the first order, and we believe, for a school-book, entirely 
unequalled. 

The fact that these books are written and published in 
Boston by members of this Board, ought not to be omitted, 
as it is a sufficient guaranty that they will always remain to 
a certain extent under our own control, and, without doubt, 
receive all the alterations and improvements which time and 
experience may dictate. 

For these reasons, the Committee unanimously re- 
commended the adoption of " Bumstead's Second and 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 203 

Third Recading Book," in pLace of those used in the 
First and Second Classes. This report was accepted, 
and the recommendation adopted by the Board ; and 
from this time the series of books thus introduced, have 
been exchisivelj used in all of our Primary Schools. 

That this series of school-books should have retained 
possession of our schools for so long a period, will not 
excite surprise, when we consider the fact that the 
pledges made in their behalf by the Book Committee, 
on their introduction, have been most honorably ful- 
filled, and that they have been, to all intents and pur- 
poses, under the control of the Board and its Commit- 
tees. The author, Mr. Bumstead, and the publisher, 
Mr. T R Marvin, to whose public spirit we are also 
much indebted for their compilation, were members of 
the Board ; and every suggestion which was made by 
the Standing Committee or members of the Board, in 
regard to the matter, or in the execution of the 
mechanical portions, were always cheerfully received, 
and the improvements as promptly adopted as circum- 
stances and the interests of the schools would allow. 

That these books have not been more extensively 
introduced into similar schools in other places, does not 
arise, as we believe, from any want of intrinsic merit, 
but because the plan upon which they are arranged is 
peculiar, and does not coincide with the views of other 
School Committees ; and also, because they have prob- 
ably not been pressed upon their attention so assidu- 
ously as some others. To this limited circulation of 
our proteges, we enter no protest or complaint, as our 
firm opinion is, that the advancement of the scholar 
depends far more upon the teacher than upon the 



204 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

book ; and as we will cheerfully yield all due defer- 
ence to the views of others upon the almost endless 
variety of school-books, we doubt not that we shall be 
pardoned for expressing our decided attachment and 
preference for those which have so long been part and 
parcel of the Boston Primary Schools. 

1844. 

The Primary Board having been appointed, January 
9, held their annual meeting on Tuesday evening, Feb- 
ruary 6, and organized themselves for the current year 
as follows : 

Chairman — Josiah F. Bumstead. 

Secretary — Alvan Simonds. 

Standing Committee — John Odin, Jr., Chairman ; F. A. 
Sumner, Secretary ; Amos A. Phelps, Asa Swallow, Eben 
Jones, Frederic 0. Prince, J. F. Bumstead, Alvan Si- 
monds, Andrew Geyer, John C. Park, Lemuel Capen, 
Daniel T. Coit, "W. P. Jarvis, Joseph Moriarty, J. "VV. 
Ingraham, George Bemis, Ezra Lincoln, Jr. 

Committee of Conference. — It was '•^ Voted, That here- 
after this Committee consist of the Chairman of the 
Board, and the Chairman and Secretary of the Stand- 
ing Committee." 

It was then '^^ Voted unanimously. That the thanks 
of the Board be presented to Richard W. Bayley, Esq., 
for the faithful and impartial manner in which he had 
presided over the deliberations of the Board for the 
past four years ; and that a copy of this vote be fur- 
nished to our late Chairman, who declined a reelection." 

The Committee of Conference were instructed to con- 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 205 

fer with the Committee of Conference of the Grammar 
Board, on the subject of an appropriation for lighting'' 
the fires and cleaning the rooms occupied by the Pri- 
mary Schools, and endeavor, either through the assist- 
ance of the Grammar School Committee, or in some 
other way, to obtain an appropriation from the City 
Council for that purpose. Rev. John Woart and Hon. 
John C. Park were added to the Committee to aid them 
in obtaining the object. 

By a vote of the Standing Committee, September 5, 
1843, Messrs. Ingraham and Simonds were appointed a 
Committee on the preparation of a new form of a 
record book for the teachers. This record book was 
prepared with great care and labor by Mr. Ingraham, 
and was adopted by the Board, March 5, who ordered 
it to be introduced at once into all the Primary Schools. 
A vote was also passed, expressing to Mr. Ingraham the 
thanks of the Board, for his disinterested labors in pre- 
paring so complete and useful a work for the purpose. 

On the report of the Standing Committee, Messrs. R 
W. Bayley, John Woart, Fr^incis D. Stedman, and Wil- 
liam T. Parker, were elected to fill the vacancies occa- 
sioned by the resignations of Messrs. Swallow, Geyer, 
Lincoln and Cap en. 

The Standing Committee, in their Semi-Annual Re- 
port, which was prepared by Dr. F. A. Sumner, proposed 
several important alterations of the rules, in regard to 
the examinations of the schools. The plan which they 
recommended was "to dispense with one examination 
of the Standing Committee, and substitute an examina- 
tion by the District Committee, to be made m the same 
form and manner as that made by the Standing Com- 



206 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

mittee. The visits to the schools to be made by siib- 
committees, and the whole state and condition of the 
schools to be embraced in a report, drawn up by some 
member of the District Committee, and forwarded to 
the Standing Committee, to make an abstract there- 
from, and present to the Board. The Spring examina- 
tions to be made by the Standing Committee, and those 
in the Fall by the Districts." 

These recommendations were adopted by the Board ; 
and at a subsequent meeting of the Standing Commit- 
tee, the proper blanks were prepared for the use of 
District Committees in their examinations ; and it was 
" Voted, That the Chairman of the Standing Committee 
should prepare the abstract of the SjDring examination, 
and that the Secretary should prepare the abstract 
from the reports of the District Committees." 

The Committee on School-houses were instructed " to 
consider and report on the best form of seats in the 
school-rooms; that measures may be taken to secure 
uniformity of seats in the rooms hereafter to be fitted 
up." 

A communication was received from Districts Nos. 2 
and 3, stating that they had agreed on a new division 
of their districts, by which some of the schools would 
be changed, and asking for the sanction of the Board. 

This arrangement being considered judicious and 
proper, a vote was passed, authorizing the changes 
proposed. 

In consequence of the repairs being made in the 
Common Council room, the usual quarterly meeting 
of the Board, in September, was postponed by a vote 
of the Standing Committee until October 1, when their 



ANNALS OF THE PRMART SCHOOLS. 207 

action was approved by the Board, and tlio following 
vote passed to provide against future contingencies : 

Voted, That the Chairman of this Board and the Chairman 
of the Standing Committee, or either of them, in the absence 
of the other, and in case of the absence of both of them, then 
a majority present at any meeting of the Standing Committee, 
shall have power to postpone any regular meeting of this 
Board to some other evening in the same month, when, in 
their opinion, uuforeseen circumstances may render it neces- 
sary or expedient so to do. 

At this time a controversy arose between Hon. 
Horace Mann and the masters of the Boston Gram- 
mar Schools, in consequence of some statements made 
upon these schools in Mr. Mann's " Seventh Annual 
Eeport of the Board of Education, and a Review of 
this Report by the Masters." In this " Review " some 
allusions were made to the Primary Schools, which 
the Standing Committee thought proper to notice in 
their Semi-Annual Report. The Board, however, not 
wishing to enter into a controversy, which could only 
result in acrimony and the formation of a party feel- 
ino;, without either benefit to the cause of education, 
or honor to the parties concerned, refused to accept 
this portion of the report, and it was accordingly 
recommitted to the Standing Committee for revision ; 
and the supposed allusions to the Primary School 
Committee in the " Review," were referred to a Special 
Committee, to consider and report at a future meeting. 

The revised report of the Standing Committee was 
accepted at a special meeting, November 8, at which 
Mr. Bayley presented a report from the Special Com- 



208 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

mittee on the remarks of the schoohnasters in their 
" Review," which, after considerable discussion, and the 
striking out of certain personal matters, was recommit- 
ted to the same Committee, with instructions to print 
a suitable number of copies for distribution. 

The Committee on School-rooms reported in favor 
of small arm-chairs being used for the seats in the Pri- 
mary Schools, and recommended that application should 
be made to the Committee on Public Buildings of the 
City Council, to supply this kind of seat in the future 
furnishing of the schools. 

1845. 

The usual certificate of the appointment of the Pri- 
mary School Committee having been received, the 
Board met for organization, February 5, when the fol- 
lowing officers and Committees were chosen : 

Chairman — Josiah F. Bumstead. 

Secretary — Alvan Simonds. 

Standing Committee — Joseph W. Ingraham, Chairman ; 
Alvan Simonds, Secretary ; Amos A. Phelps, John Woart, 
Charles E. Wiggin, F. A. Sumner, R. W. Bayley, Fred. 
0. Prince, John Odin, Jr., W. P. Jarvis, Eben Jones, 
Francis D. Stedman, John Spence, Jr., John C. Park, 
Henry I. Bowditch, Wm. J. Parker, Josiah F. Bumstead. 

Dr. Henry I. Bowditch presented the petition of sun- 
dry persons, praying for the abolishing of separate 
schools for colored children, and that they be admit- 
ted into the schools with other pupils ; and moved its 
reference to a Special Committee, which was refused, 
and the whole subject laid on the table. This petition 
was taken from the table, March 4, and referred to 
Messrs. Bowditch, Ingraham, Bayley, Blake and Tolman, 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 209 

to consider cancl report upon at the next quarterly meet- 
ing. There not being time to act upon the subject at 
the quarterly meeting, June i, an adjourned meeting 
was held June 18, at which Mr. Ingraham submitted a 
report, signed by a majority of the Committee, adverse 
to the petition ; and Dr. Bowditch read a minority 
report, and resolutions in accordance with the petition. 
A long discussion ensued, which was closed by the 
adoption of the following resolution, by a vote of fifty- 
five in the affirmative, to twelve in the negative : 

Resolved, That it is inexpedient; at the present time, for this 
Board to act upon the subject of abolishing the separate 
schools for colored children. 

In the Standing Committee, February 25, Dr. F. A. 
Sumner was elected Chairman, but declined, and Mr. J. 
"W. Ingraham was chosen. 

Messrs. Stedman, Bumstead and Ingraham, were 
appointed a Committee to prepare a memorial to the 
City Government, asking for an appropriation for mak- 
ing the fires, cleaning the rooms, and removing the 
snow in winter from the Primary Schools. 

At the quarterly meeting of the Board, September 2, 
the subject of a Superintendent of the Primary Schools 
was again brought forward, on a motion by Kev. Chas. 
Brooks ; and " Messrs. Brooks, Jones, Dall, Sumner and 
Humphrey, were appointed a Committee to take into 
consideration the expediency of the appointment of a 
Superintendent of the Primary Schools, whose duty it 
shall be, under the direction of this Board, to devote 
his whole time in promoting the improvement and 
extending the usefulness of the Primary Schools." 

27 



210 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Messrs. Brooks, Park, Cragin and Oliver, were ap- 
pointed a Committee to report upon the expediency of 
increasing the salaries of the teachers to $300 per 
annum ; and also, whether the teachers of the " Schools 
for Special Instruction," ought to receive a larger com- 
pensation than the others. 

On the 6th of October, Hon. Thomas A. Davis being 
in declining health, resigned the office of Mayor ; the 
resignation, however, was not accepted by the City 
Council. As Mr. Davis was unable to perform the 
duties of the office for some time previous to his death, 
which occurred November 22, and no provisions for 
such a contingency having been made in the City 
Charter, the regular course of business was embar- 
rassed, and the settlement of accounts against the city 
was necessarily deferred. The payment of the teach- 
ers' salaries was thus delayed ; and as it was uncertain 
how long a time this state of things might continue, a 
special meeting of the Primary Board was called by 
the Chairman on the evening of November 21, for the 
purpose of adopting some measures for the payment of 
the salaries of the teachers of the Primary Schools, who 
were subjected to much inconvenience from this sin- 
gular state of affairs. 

At this meeting, Messrs. Ingraham, D. Kimball and 
Bumstead, were appointed a Committee to j)rocure the 
necessary funds for the immediate payment of the sal- 
aries of the teachers due on the 1st of November. 

This Committee reported, December 17, by stating 
that the salaries of one hundred and eight of the teach- 
ers, being all that had presented their bills, had been 
paid from the funds furnished by a number of gentle- 



ANNALS OF THE PRLMARY SCHOOLS. 211 

men ; and they recommended the passage of the fol- 
lowing resolution: 

Resolved, That the cordial thanks of this Board be pre- 
sented to James Whiting, George R. Sampson, Charles E. 
Wiggin, Thomas B. Curtis, J. F. Bumstead, Peleg W. Chand- 
ler, Daniel Denney, Martin Brimmer, James C. Dunn, Richard 
W. Bayley, and Benjamin Seaver, Esquires, for their kindness 
in advancing the funds necessary to liquidate the demands of 
our teachers upon the City Treasury. 

The report was accepted, and the resolve was passed 
by the Board. 

The special assignment of the meeting was then 
taken up, which was the consideration of the report 
of the Committee on the expediency of a Superin- 
tendent. The main question being upon the adoption 
of a " Resolve, That the highest good of the Primary 
Schools of Boston required that a Superintendent be 
appointed." 

The discussion continued through the evening, and 
was postponed to an adjourned meeting, December 
24, at which, after a further discussion, the vote was 
taken by yeas and nays, and the resolve rejected, by 
forty-six nays to eighteen yeas. 

1846, 

February 6. The Board was organized as follows : 

Chairman — Josiah F. Bumstead. 

Secretary — Alvan Slmonds. 

Standing Committee — J. W. Ingraham, Chairman; 
Alvan Simonds, Secretary ; J. F. Bumstead, R. W. Bay- 
ley, W. P. Jarvis, William Ball, John Woart, F. 0. 



212 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Prince, Eben Jones, John Spence, Jr., John C. Park, 
F. D. Stedman, H. I. Bowditch, Richard Soule, Jr.^ 
WilUam Crowell, J. W. Merrill, Dorus Clarke, F. A. 
Sumner. 

The petition of sundry citizens, in relation to special 
schools for colored children, was taken from last year's 
files, and referred to Messrs. Crowell, Kimball, Bow- 
ditch and Ingraham, to consider and report. 

At a meeting, March 3, the Standing Committee 
reported that they had selected Mr. William B. Brooks 
to be a member of that Committee, in place of William 
Dall, resigned. It was also " Voted, That the Standing 
Committee have power to fill vacancies in their body 
by reporting the fact to the Board." 

Mr. D. Kimball, from the Committee on the neglect 
of members to examine and visit their schools, made a 
report, recommending that Rule 6, chapter 3, be altered 
by inserting the following : 

Whenever it shall appear by the returns of the teachers, 
or from any other source satisfactory to the Standing Com- 
mittee, that any member has neglected to examine the school 
under his special charge for three consecutive months, his 
name shall be stricken from the list of members ; and it shall 
be the duty of tlic Secretary to notify the Chairman or Secre- 
tary of the district of such vacancy. Provided, however, 
that in case of sickness or absence from the city of any mem- 
ber, the charge of his school may be confided to another 
member or members; notice of which shall be given to the 
Secretary of the Board, and such substitution shall continue 
for a period not exceeding six months. 

This amendment was laid upon the table, and the 
Secretary directed to insert it in the notice for the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 213 

next meeting, June 2, when it was unanimously 
adopted. 

At the quarterly meeting, June 2, several important 
votes were passed. The subject of Ventilation, and 
the necessity of some action in regard to it, was in- 
troduced by Dr. H. G. Clark; and "Messrs. Clark 
Brooks and Buck, were appointed a Committee to 
devise some mode of ventilating the various rooms 
used for Primary Schools." 

Notwithstanding the large number of schools (one 
hundred and fifty) at this time, there was some diffi- 
culty in accommodating all the children in some sec- 
tions of the city ; and occasionally a member of the 
Committee refused to admit a child to his school, on 
the ground of its being already crowded, or because 
he did not consider the residence of the child included 
within his school limits. The exercise of this discre- 
tion, on the part of a Local Committee, to admit or 
not, was liable to serious objections, inasmuch as the 
poor and uneducated parents could not understand 
how to proceed, when their application for a certifi- 
cate had been rejected by the Committee, to whom 
they had been sent; and the child might thus be 
prevented from obtaining an education to which all 
were justly entitled. 

With these views, the Standing Committee appended 
to their quarterly report a series of alterations to the 
Eules, by which all children were entitled to enter 
the school nearest their residence ; and it was made 
the duty of every member to admit to his school all 
applicants of suitable age ■- and qualifications ; and 
when the number in his school was such as to pre- 



214 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

vent the child's admission, the teacher or Committee 
should take the name and residence of the child, 
specifying the cause of its non-admission, and trans- 
mit the same to the Standing Committee, whose duty 
it was made to provide a remedy. These amendments 
were adopted by the Board, and a vote was passed, 
" requiring the several teachers to report to the Secre- 
tary of the Board, on the second Monday of each 
month, the names and residences of all children be- 
longing to their schools, who may be incorrigibly 
stubborn, or habitual truants; and as far as they 
can learn, the names and residences of the parents 
of any children who may be growing up in idleness 
and neglect of all school privileges. And the Secre- 
tary shall transmit the same to His Honor the Mayor, 
to take such action upon the several cases as he may 
deem proper." 

On the 15th of June, Rev. Mr. Crowell presented 
his report, in behalf of a majority of the Committee, 
on the petition of sundry citizens, for the abolishing 
of separate schools for colored pupils ; concluding with 
a resolve adverse to the prayer of the petition. Mr. 
Edmund Jackson submitted a minority report, and a 
resolve favorable in part to the request of the petition- 
ers. The reports were received, placed on file, and 
the Committee discharged from further consideration 
of the subject. The resolutions were then taken up, 
and the debate continued to an adjourned meeting, 
June 22, at which Mr. Crowell read the opinion of 
John Pickering, Esq., the City Solicitor, respecting the 
legal power of the Primary School Committee to regu- 
late and classify the children in their schools. The 



ANNALS OP THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 215 

report of Mr. Crowell was able and conclusive in its 
argument, and the resolve appended to it, "That in 
the opinion of this Board, the continuance of the 
separate schools for colored children is not only leo-al 
and just, but is best adapted to promote the educa- 
tion of that part of our population," was passed by 
a vote of fifty-nine yeas to sixteen nays. 

Both the majority and minority reports * were 
ordered to be printed and distributed to the members. 

At a meeting of the Standing Committee, Novem- 
ber 24th, the Chairman reported, that from the returns 
of the teachers it appeared that twenty-five members 
of the Board had "neglected to examine their schools 
for three consecutive months," and that these mem- 
bers were liable to be stricken from the list, under 
the rule adopted by the Board in June. It was, how- 
ever, deemed advisable to refer this whole subject to 
a Committee to consider and report. Accordingly, 
a form of notice to delinquent members was j)re- 
pared, and adopted December 10 ; but the City Solici- 
tor being consulted, gave it as his opinion, " That the 
Primary Board had no right, at present, to strike off 
members from their lists until the time had expired 
for which they were appointed by the Grammar 
School Committee." Application was subsequently 
made to the Grammar Board, and a standing author- 
ity given to the Primary Board to« discharge mem- 
bers who may neglect to perform their duties. Of 
the twenty-five gentlemen reported as delinquent, 
thirteen were excused from sickness, absence from 
the city, and other causes deemed sufficient by the 

* City Document, No. 23, 1846. 



216 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Committee; three were found to be errors in the 
teacher's returns ; three had previously resigned, but 
were not reported; and six were referred to the 
Standing Committee of 1847, as they were not amen- 
able to the present Committee, under the ruling of 
the City Solicitor. 

By a vote of the Board, December 7th, the rule 
in regard to delinquent members was so far amended 
as to give discretionary power to the Standing Com- 
mittee in deciding upon striking the members from 
the list, or excusing them, as circumstances might 
render it expedient or proper. 



1847. 

February 2. For the first time, since the organiza- 
tion of the Board, a majority could not decide upon 
a Chairman. Mr. Bumstead having declined a reelec- 
tion, a Committee was appointed to present a list of 
names of suitable persons as candidates for Chair- 
man, who reported the names of George S. Hillard, 
Charles Brooks, and Eben Jones. After two ballot- 
ings, in which Mr. Hillard had within two of the 
necessary number, the meeting was adjourned to 
Monday evening, February 8, when Mr. Hillard ob- 
jected to being considered as a candidate. A Com- 
mittee then proposed the names of Francis Brown, 
Samuel W. Hall, and William Crowell. Mr. Hall 
declined being a candidate; and on the fifth ballot 
Mr. Eben Jones was elected Chairman, Alvan Simonds 
was then unanimously reelected Secretary/. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 217 

Standing Committee — Joseph W. Ingraham, Chair- 
man; Alvan Simonds, Secretary; J. F. Bumstead, E. 
"W. Bayley, John Woart, Eben Jones, H. I. Bowditch, 
R Soule, Jr., W. Crowell, Amos Smith, Thomas Wilder, 
W. P. Jarvis, F. 0. Prince, J. Spence, Jr., J. W. Merrill, 
Dorus Clark, Wm. B. Brooks, David Kimball, F. A. 
Sumner. 

The Committee on Ventilation made an elaborate, 
practical and scientific report upon this subject, and 
were authorized to have three hundred coj)ies printed 
for the use of the teachers and Committee of the Pri- 
mary Schools, after which, "the thanks of the Board 
were presented to Messrs. Henry G. Clark, Charles 
Brooks, and Ephraim Buck, Jr., for their time and 
attention bestowed upon the subject of ventilation, 
and for their able and interesting report upon this 
subject, in connection with the Primary Schools." 

The same gentlemen were also requested to continue 
to act as a Committee on Ventilation for the ensuing 
year, and to take all necessary measures to obtain the 
means from the City Government to effect the proper 
ventilation of the Primary School-rooms. 

It is gratifying to state that to this appeal the City 
Council responded by a liberal appropriation, which 
was expended under the general supervision of this 
Committee, and that of the City Council on Public 
Buildings; but to Dr. Henry G. Clark we are princi- 
pally indebted, for the effective manner in which this 
most desirable aid to the health and comfort of our 
schools was accomplished. 

The instruction and practice of plain sewing, as an 
auxiliary in the moral training of the girls in the 

28 



218 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Primary Schools, had always been regarded by the 
Committee as highly important, and its necessity had 
become more and more apparent, as the schools were 
increased, and were filled up by a class of children from 
the lowest ranks of society, where home education was 
unknown, and whose moral as well as intellectual facul- 
ties must be developed by our teachers. With a view 
to increased attention to this subject, the Board ap- 
pointed Messrs. Charles Brooks, J. W. Ingraham, Joseph 
M. Wightman, J. V. C. Smith, and Isaac Adams, a Com- 
mittee to consider the expediency of a more general 
introduction of plain sewing into the Primary Schools; 
and upon their report, made at a subsequent meeting 
of the Board, it w^as 

Ordered, That plain sewing shall be introduced into any 
of the Primary Schools, whenever the Committee of such 
school shall deem it expedient. 

Ordered, That each teacher shall specify in her semi- 
annual report the number of pupils who practise plain 
sewing in her school. 

The Standing Committee reported that they had 
elected Dr. E. D. G. Palmer to the vacancy occasioned 
by the resignation of Richard "W. Bayley; they also 
reported that the Grammar School Board had assented 
to their request, to change the age from seven to ei^ht, 
for the transfer of children from the Primary to the 
Grammar Schools. 

Under the vote of the City Council, passed in March, 
1838, the Primary Board established several schools for 
the education of children over eight years of age. 
These schools had proved eminently successful; and 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 219 

as the proportion of this class of children had increased 
so as to require additional accommodation, the Board 
petitioned the City Council for a modification of the 
original order, and in December, 1846, the Joint Stand- 
ing Committee on Public Instruction reported an order 
by which the Primary School Committee " were author- 
ized to admit into one or more schools, in each of the 
districts, any children over seven years of age, not 
qualified for admission into the Grammar Schools." 
This order was passed by both branches of the City 
Council, and officially communicated to the Board at 
their annual meeting in January, 1847. 

Several of the teachers in the Grammar Schools 
having taken the responsibility of deciding upon the 
qualifications of pupils from the Primary Schools, and 
rejecting the certificates given by that Committee, the 
Standing Committee requested the Grammar Board 
to take some action in reference to the matter, upon 
which the following resolution was passed by that 
Board, February 3, 1847; 

Resolved, That the children coming from the Primary to 
the Grammar SchoolS; and bringing a certificate of the requi- 
site qualifications from a member of the Primary School 
Committee, shall not be rejected on account of want of 
qualifications, unless the rejection shall be sanctioned by the 
Sub-Committee of the Grammar School, to which application 
for admission shall be made. 

The vacations in the Grammar Schools had been 
gradually increased by the action of the Committee, 
until, including Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, 
the aggregate amounted to nearly one-third of the 



220 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

year. The Primary Board had usually allowed the 
same vacations in the schools under theu' care, although 
they had long felt that so much vacation was a great 
disadvantage to the children, and very troublesome to 
the parents. Under these circumstances, when the 
Grammar Board voted to add two more weeks to the 
vacation, the Standing Committee felt it their duty 
to notice the evil effect of this proceeding in their 
Semi-Annual Report to the Board, March 2, 1847, 
and recommended the following to their consideration : 

Whereas, the Committee have understood that the Gram- 
mar Board have by a late order voted to add two weeks to 
the summer vacation of their schools ; and 

Whereas, it is desirable that the vacations in the Primary 
Schools should continue to occur at the same time, and be of 
the same length, as those in the Grammar Schools ; and this 
Committee are of opinion that the extension of our vacations 
will be injurious to our schools, and a source of complaint 
from the parents of the scholars ; therefore, 

Resolved, That a respectful request be presented to the 
Grammar School Committee, that they will reconsider their 
late order extending their summer vacation to five and a-half 
weeks. 

This was unanimously adopted by the Board, and 
the Standing Committee instructed to confer with the 
Grammar Board on the subject. 

Mr. Ingraham announced the death of Dr. Ephraim 
Buck, Jr., and paid an appropriate tribute to his worth, 
and valuable services as a member of the Board, and 
of the Committee on Ventilation, which was responded 
to by the Chairman ; and Dr. William E. Coale was 
appointed to fill the vacancy hi the Committee on 
Ventilation. 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIARY SCHOOLS. 221 

The order introduced February 8, by Mr. Ingraham, 
for the reduction of the members of the Board, was 
considered at the quarterly meeting, March 10th, and 
after several amendments it was decided to make the 
experiment under an order in the following form : 

Ordered, That whenever the seat of any member of this 
Board shall be vacated, the District Committee, of which he 
was a member, be empowered to assign the care of his school 
to some other member of their Committee, who is willing to 
assume it, instead of nominating a new member to fill the 
vacancy ; no member being allowed to have the care of more 
than two schools. 

September 7. Messrs. Ingraham, Wilder, Simonds, 
Jones, Bowditch, and Soule, were appointed "a Com- 
mittee to confer with the city authorities in relation 
to the evils of truancy and vagrancy among the young 
of our city, and adopt such measures in concurrence 
with said authorities as may be deemed expedient 
to remedy these evils." 

In the report of the Standing Committee, much 
gratification was expressed at the efforts which were 
being made to establish a Public Library; and the 
Board passed the following resolution at their meet- 
ing, December 7 : 

Resolved, That the Primary School Committee view with 
feelings of pleasure the efforts of the City Government, aided 
by liberal-minded men, towards the establishment of a Public 
Library, designed for the benefit of the citizens generally, and 
that an object so desirable in itself is worthy of their highest 
countenance and support; and that they look forward to the 
time when the hopes of its friends will be fully realized. 



222 Al^NALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 



1848. 

On the 12tli of January, the Primary School Com- 
mittee received their usual appointment from the 
Grammar Board, and their first meeting for organiza- 
tion was held February 1, when the following of&cers 
and Committees were chosen : 

President '^ — Eben Jones. 

Secretary/ — Alvan Simonds. 

Executive''^ Committee — J. "W. Ingraham, Chairman; 
Alvan Simonds, Secretary ; F. A. Sumner, Wm. Crowell, 
Joseph M. Wightman, Oliver Carter, Richard Soule, Jr., 
William Butters, John Sj^ence, Jr., W. P. Jarvis, E. D. 
G. Palmer, Samuel B. Cruft, Samuel F McCleary, Jr., 
Albert Bowker, David Kimball, John Woart, S. L. 
Abbott, Eben Jones, Thomas Wilder. 

On motion of Mr. William D. Ticknor, it was 

Voted, That in view of the increase of schoolS; and the 
additional duties of the Secretary of the Board, he be author- 
ized hereafter to present to the city a semi-annual bill for $50, 
instead of $30, as heretofore, and that the president be re- 
quested to approve the same, and present it with this vote to 
the Committee on Accounts of the City Council. 

March 7. A Committee having been apjDointed for 
the purpose, the schools at East Boston were divided 
into three districts, which were designated as Districts 

* In tlie Rules of tlie Board, which were carefully revised by a Committee 
and adopted by the Boai-d, November 16, 1847, the title of "Chairman" 
of the Board was changed to that of " President," and the " Standing " 
Committee changed to the " Executive " Committee. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 223 

1, 2 and 3, East Boston ; the districts in the other parts 
of the city remaining as at present numbered. 

The following statistics of the Primary Schools for 
one year will show the labor and duties of the Com- 
mittee at this time: 







No, 


. schools. 


Boys. 


Girls. 


Total. 


Av. attend. 


No. exam's. 


No. visits. 


Jan. 


31, 


1847, 


138 


4517 


4069 


8586 


6579 


759 


2004 


July 


31, 


18-47, 


146 


4831 


4589 


9420 


7220 


853 


2460 


Jan. 


31, 


1848, 


159 


5101 


4747 


9838 


7548 


841 


2311 



The Executive Committee made a report on the 
order referred to them, at the last meeting of the 
Board, in relation to placing the $25 allowed to the 
teachers for making fires, care of rooms, &c., at the 
disposal of the District Committees. The Committee 
deemed it inexpedient to make any change, but recom- 
mended that the attention of the teachers be particu- 
larly called to the provisions in the Eules, in relation 
to the opening and warming of the school-rooms at 
seasonable hours, and that their particular attention 
be called to these provisions. The report and recom- 
mendations were adopted. 

The Executive Committee were requested to con- 
sider the expediency of asking an appropriation from 
the City Government to furnish each of the Primary 
Schools with a dictionary. 

The subject of employing one or more teachers 
of music for the teachers and pupils of the Primary 
Schools, was referred to a Committee composed of 
Messrs. Brooks, Ticknor, Cragin, Humphrey and Coit. 

A Committee of five was appointed to report upon 
the best method of securing to all the pupils in our 
Primary Schools, that religious and moral instruction 



224 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

which is required by the constitution and laws of the 
Commonwealth. 

Frequent allusions have already been made to the 
efforts of the Primary School Board, in relation to 
some improvement in the rooms which were provided 
for this class of our Public Schools. They had, after 
years of effort, succeeded in inducing the city to erect 
a few buildings for this purpose ; but the contrast 
between the accommodations for the Grammar and 
Primary Schools was very marked. The former were 
exhibited with pride, and justly regarded as monuments 
of the prosperity and intelligence of our citizens, 
while the latter, often crowded into obscure hired 
rooms, Avith but few comforts or conveniences for a 
school, were a constant subject of mortification, when- 
ever the Committee were called upon to show this 
class of our schools to strangers. 

The buildings which were erected by the city for 
the Primary Schools, were built of wood, and contained 
but a single room, after the model of the common vil- 
lage school-houses. It had not been, nor was it then, 
the practice of the City Council to confer with either 
of the School Committees in relation to the location, 
size or construction of a school-house ; and when, occa- 
sionally, a suggestion was made by the Grammar School 
Committee, it was regarded rather as an interference 
with the prerogatives of the City Council, the members 
of which, sometimes, carried the idea of the peculiar 
fitness of their own members to provide the school- 
houses, to an extreme not warranted or sustained by 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 225 

the manner in which some of the buildings were 
constructed/*- 

Because a large majority of the members of the 
School Committee were professional men, it was no 
reason why their judgment should be entirely ignored 
in all matters pertaining to the arrangement of the 
school-houses. The importance of judicious warming 
and ventilation, — the arrangement of the windows and 
the seats, so that the room might be properly lighted 
without injuring the eyes of the pupils, and the manner 
in which many things could be advantageously intro- 
duced to increase the comfort, convenience and health 
of the children and teachers, can only be thoroughly 
understood and appreciated by those of our citizens, 
who, as members of the School Committee, have ex- 
perienced the evils attendant uj)on a neglect of these 
matters. And it is but justice to assert, that, to the 
perseverance and scientific investigations of these po- 

*In 1846, an order was introduced in the Common Council by a member, 
instructing the Committee on Public Buildings to consult with the Committee 
on School-houses of the School Committee, before purchasing a site, or 
deciding upon a plan for a school-house, which was voted down by almost 
a unanimous vote. The Chairman of the Committee on Public Build- 
ings asked with an air of triumph, " What do the School Committee know 
about buildings ? They may know how to take care of tho schools and 
children, but they are not architects, or masons, or carpenters, and know 
nothing of the erection of buildings, while the Committee on Public Build- 
ings is composed of practical men, who know all about the matter." To 
show the value of the practical knowledge of this Committee, we would 
state that in the erection of the LjTnan School-house, at East Boston, under 
their direction, the ventilating flues were carried up within the walls to the 
top, and then covered over tight with the stone coping ! and in other school- 
houses, erected under the direction of this same practical Committee, the 
flues were made to terminate in the attic, from which no outlet was provided; 
and thus, so far as ventilation was concerned, the flues might just as well 
have been closed by the coping. 
29 



226 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

fessional members of the School Committee we are 
principally indebted, for the cheerful, healthy, and 
attractive schools now enjoyed by our children. 

The continued efforts of the Primary Board, and the 
indefatigable perseverance of Mr. J. W. Ingraham, 
seem finally to have made some impression on the 
Government ; and during the years 1847 and 1848, 
three Primary School-houses were built in different parts 
of the city, — the plans and arrangements of which 
were, generally, in conformity with the views and 
desires of the Primary Board. And there is reason 
to believe, that when the buildings were completed, the 
Committee of the City Council were satisfied that the 
views of the Executive Committee were judicious, and 
justified the adoption of the plans they had submitted. 

The third, and probably the best arranged of these 
buildings, was that erected on Sheafe street, for three 
schools in District No. 1. This was also the first school- 
house erected for Primary School instruction in this 
city, which was set apart for its ajopropriate uses by a 
formal dedicatory service. At the request of the Ex- 
ecutive Committee, Mr. Ingraham delivered an interest- 
ing address upon the progress of the Primary School 
system, and on the duties of teachers and others con- 
nected with the schools. Other addresses were made 
by Hon. Horace Mann, Secretary of the Massachusetts 
Board of Education, and gentlemen connected with the 
City Council, and School Committee, which, with the 
singing of several hymns and songs by the school chil- 
dren, rendered the occasion exceedingly agreeable and 
encouraging. 

On the 13th of June, the Semi- Annual Report of the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 227 

Executive Committee was read to the Board by Mr. 
Ingraham, which was the last report made by him, as 
his useful life was brought to a close on Monday even- 
ing, August 28th, preceded by an illness of less than a 
week. His long connection with the Primary Schools, 
and his sudden and unexpected decease, produced a 
profound impression upon the Committee and teachers 
with whom, for many years, he had been associated. 

In the year 1821, Mr. Ingraham was elected a mem- 
ber of the Primary School Committee, and for more 
than a quarter of a century he was a most zealous and 
efficient member. 

The wide field of usefulness thus opened, was con- 
genial to his active mind, and he entered upon it with 
the most lively interest. He was always regular and 
punctual at the meetings of the Board and Committees, 
and his labors were of a character and amount scarcely 
to be credited by those who were not familiar with 
them. At a special meeting of the Executive Commit- 
tee, held August 29th, the following resolutions were 
unanimously adopted : 

Resolved, That the Executive Committee have learned, with 
heartfelt sorrow, the sudden decease of their esteemed Chair- 
man. Joseph W. Ingraham, in which event they have to de- 
plore the loss of a valuable and indefatigable member of their 
Committee, and the senior member of the Primary School 
Board. 

Resolved, That his ardent devotion to the cause of popular 
education, his faithful discharge of the laborious duties of 
Chairman of this Committee for many years, his unwearied 
and gratuitous exertions for the best interests of the Primary 
Schools of this city, entitle him to the grateful remembrance 
of this community, and of the friends of education generally. 



228 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Resolved, That the Executive Committee will attend the 
funeral of the deceased at Christ Church, on Thursday next, 
at four o'clock, P. M., and they do hereby invite the members 
of the Primary and Grammar School Committees to unite 
with them in this expression of their respect for the memory 
of their late friend and Chairman. 

Resolved, As a testimony of respect for the many virtues of 
the deceased, the Committee recommend that the several Pri- 
mary Schools throughout the city be suspended on Thursday 
afternoon next, that both teachers and children may pay the 
last sad tribute to departed worth. 

Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be transmit- 
ted by the Secretary to the relatives of the deceased, with 
whom this Committee deeply sympathize in their sudden 
bereavement. 

The funeral of Mr. Ingraham took place at Christ 
Church, on Tuesday afternoon, August 31st. Every 
part of the house was crowded with the friends of the 
deceased, among; whom were the members of the 
School Committee, the Primary School teachers, mem- 
bers of the City Government, distinguished friends of 
education, and many of the children of the schools in 
the vicinity. The body was met at the church door, 
and conducted up the aisle by the Rev. Drs. Croswell 
and Eaton, and the Rev. Mr. Woart. Appropriate 
music was performed by the choir, and a beautiful and 
touching eulogy upon the character and life of Mr 
Ingraham, as a citizen, as a man, and as a Christian, 
was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Woart, who was his 
pastor, and for many years his associate in the Board. 
Almost the entire congregation followed in procession 
to the burial ground, on Copp's Hill, where the exer- 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 229 

cises were concluded by the Rev. Drs. Eaton and 
Croswell. 

At the quarterly meetmg of the Board, September 
5, the death of Mr. Ingraham was announced hy Mr. 
Woart, and a series of resolutions were adoj^ted, ex- 
pressing their sense of the loss the schools had sus- 
tained ; and the following votes were passed, after 
which the Board adjourned, as a testimonial of their 
respect : 

Voted, That Messrs. J. \^. C. Smith, T. R. Marvin, and W. 
D. Ticknor, be a Committee to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Woart, 
and solicit for pubKcation a copy of his just and appropriate 
observations on the character of the late Joseph Weutworth 
Ingraham, as delivered at his funeral. 

Voted, That the doings of this Board, and of the Executive 
Committee, in relation to Mr. Ingraham's decease, be printed 
for the use of the Board, in connection with Mr. Woart's 
address, under the direction of the same Committee. 

The Executive Committee held a meetins; on the 
afternoon of September 5th, at which Mr. Joseph 
M. "WiGHTMAN was cliosen Chairman, in place of Mr. 
Ingraham. The Secretary read the semi-annual report, 
to which a vote was appended, "That the subject of 
the bad binding of school books, as referred to by sev- 
eral teachers, be specially brought to the notice of the 
Board in the report." Mr. Wilder having resigned the 
special charge of the school on the Mill Dam, it was 
voted to revive the old practice of examination by the 
members of the Executive Committee, in rotation, two 
members in each month. 

September 12. An adjourned meeting of the Board 
was held, at which the quarterly report of the Execu- 



230 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 



tive Committee was read by the Secretary ; and on 
motion of Mr. Wales, it was 

Voted, That the Primary School-house, lately erected ia 
Sheafe street, upon a plan furnished by our late associate, 
Joseph W. Ingrahara, be hereafter known by the name of the 
"Ingraham Primary School." 

Voted, That Messrs. Wales, Bumstead, Ober, Dall and Met- 
calf, be a Committee to communicate the foregoing vote to 
the City Council, and request their concurrence ; and that 
they cause the name aforesaid to be affixed to said house in 
the usual manner. 

December 5. This being the regular quarterly meet- 
ing, the Semi-Annual report of the Executive Commit- 
tee for the jDreceding six months was presented and 
read by the Secretary. From this report it appears 
that on the 1st of November the statistics of the 
schools were as follows, viz. : 
Whole number of schools, . . . . 166 

Whole number of pupils, ..... 10,273 

Pupils admitted during the last six months, . 4,791 
Pupils sent to Grammar School during the last 

six months, ...... 962 

Pupils now prepared for admission to Gram- 
mar School, .... 

Average attendance, 

Averagre absence, .... 

Per cent, of attendance, . 



Number that attend to sewing, . 
Number of pupils of foreign parentage. 
Number of examinations. 
Number of visits to the schools. 
Number of pupils over seven years of age, 



7,973 
2,178 
78 
879 

4,977 

877 

2,577 

3,969 



ANNALS OF THE PRLMARY SCHOOLS. 231 

The Executive Committee also recommended an 
alteration of the time of their examination, to the first 
two weeks in February ; and that by the District Com- 
mittees to the first two weeks in August; and the 
same was adopted at the succeeding meeting. 



1849. 

The Primary School Committee having been ap- 
pointed by the Grammar Board, on the 17th of Jan- 
uary, the first meeting for organization was held 
February 2d, and the following officers were chosen : 

President — Eben Jones. 

Secretary/ — Alvan Simonds. 

Executive Committee — Joseph M. Wightman, Chairman ; 
Alvan Simonds, Secretary ; William P. Jarvis, Eben 
Jones, John Woart, John Spence, Jr., E. D. G. Palmer, 
Albert Bowker, Samuel F. McCleary, Jr., Charles 
Brooks, Thomas Restieaux, William H. Calrow, David 
Kimball, Thomas Wilder, Alvah Hobbs, Moses J Gove, 
William R. Lawrence, Oliver Carter, William A. But- 
ters, Samuel A. Abbott. 

On motion of Dr. John Odin, it was 

Ordered, That the Committee of Conference be requested 
to ascertain and report at the nest meeting of this Board, 
what directions are given to the masters of the Grammar 
Schools in relation to the keeping of long sessions on stormy 
days, and suggest such action as may create uniformity in this 
matter in the Public Schools. 

A communication was received from the City Audi- 
tor, requesting an estimate of the appropriation re- 



232 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

quired for the Primary School department for the 
next financial year, upon which it was ^^ Voted, That 
so much as refers to the ordinary expenses of the 
schools be referred to the Executive Committee ; and 
so much as relates to school-houses, be referred to 
the Committee on School-houses." 

March 6. Quarterly Meeting. — New schools were au- 
thorized to be established in Districts Nos. 5, 16 and 19. 

Eev. C. Brooks stated that the Grammar School 
Board had appointed a Committee to consider the 
expediency of a new organization of all the Public 
Schools, and moved that a Committee from the Primary 
Board should be appointed to confer with them ; where- 
upon, Messrs. T. R. Marvin, Francis Brown, and Benja- 
min P. Richardson, were appointed a Committee for 
this purpose. 

The Semi-Annual Report of the Executive Commit- 
tee was then read by the Chairman, (Mr. Wightman,) 
from which it apneared that on the 31st of January, 
1849, 

The number of schools was . . . . 168 

The number of pupils — girls, 4,984 ; boys, 5.455, 10,439 
The number of pupils sent to the Grammar 

Schools, 769 

The number of pupils now prepared for Gram- 
mar Schools, 1,029 

The number of pupils attending to sewing, . 1,089 

The number of pupils of foreign parentage, . 4,996 

Per centage of attendance last six months, . .76 

Number of examinations by the Committee, . 874 

Number of visits to the schools, . . , 2,449 



ANNALS OP THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 233 

The Chairman also reported that Messrs. Charles 
Brooks and Thomas Restieaux having declined the 
office of members of the Executive Committee, they 
had filled the vacancies by the choice of James B. Dow 
and Israel P. Procter, which action was confirmed by 
the Board. 

Mr. Wightman, for the Committee of Conference, 
made a report upon the order passed at the last meet- 
ing, in relation to " long sessions on stormy days," stat- 
ing that the Grammar School Committee had voted 
that such, sessions were " unauthorized and inexpedi- 
ent," and that probably no farther action was necessary. 

The report was accepted, and it was voted that the 
Local Committees should not permit long sessions to be 
held in the schools under their charge. 

The Committee of Conference with the Grammar 
Board, were directed to request the restoration of the 
rule in relation to Intermediate Schools, and the repeal 
of such provisions as conflict with reciprocal action of 
the two Boards in the transfer of pupils. 

A special meeting of the Board was held May 25th, 
" to consider the expediency of granting a vacation of 
tivo tvceJis, instead of one iveeJc, in conformity with the 
action of the Grammar Board towards the schools 
under their charge." 

After considerable discussion, during which it was 
demonstrated that it was not for the interest of the 
parents, the children or the schools, to increase the 
vacations ; and that the frequent demand for vacations, 
by the teachers, ought not to be encouraged, it was 
voted unanimously that the subject be indefinitely 
postponed. 

30 



234 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

The Committee on School Books made a report, 
recommending that the words in the spelling books 
be visibly divided into syllables, and that the author 
of the book styled " Spelling and Thinking Combined," 
be requested to publish an edition of said work, in 
which the words of more than one syllable should be 
divided according to the best standard dictionary. 
Also recommending that the following charts be intro- 
duced into all the Primary Schools, viz. : " Table for 
Training the Organs of Speech in Articulation," "Nu- 
merical Table," and the "Punctuation Table/' which 
had been partially introduced, with satisfactory evi- 
dence of their utility. 

The Executive Committee reported the following 
resolution, which was adopted: 

Resolved, That it is inexpedient for the teachers of our 
Primary Schools to act as agents, or use their influence as 
teachers, in the distribution among their pupils of periodicals 
or any other publications, not specially recommended by the 
Primary School Board. 

A special meeting of the Board was called, July 2, 
the object of Avhich was " to see if the Committee will 
take any measures for altering the time of commencing 
the schools in the afternoon, from two to three o'clock, 
so as to conform with the action of the Grammar 
Board." 

The subject elicited considerable discussion, in which 
the frequent changes in the legislation of the Grammar 
Board, in regard to vacations and school hours, Avere 
objected to, as being detrimental to the general welfare 
of the schools ; and under the circumstances, it was 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 235 

considered advisable for the Primary Board to defer 
making any important alterations in the schools under 
their care, until some settled plan should be adopted by 
the Grammar Board, after a trial in the schools under 
their own charge. 

The inconvenience of having the Public Schools 
assemble at different hours, was urged as a reason 
for the change ; but the Board voted to indefinitely 
postpone the further consideration of the subject. 

The quarterly meeting was held September 4th, at 
which the Semi-Annual Report of the Executive Com- 
mittee "was presented by the Secretary and accepted. 

Mr. Wightman presented a petition of Sidney Fisher, 
and other residents in Wards 10 and 11, requesting a 
special investigation into the causes of the removal of 
certain teachers of the Primary Schools in District No. 
18, by the Local Committee. While the appointment 
of a Committee was pending, a motion was made and 
carried that the whole matter be postponed. 

Much interest, however, being felt in the course of 
the Committee, a special meeting of the Board was 
called on the evening of October 9, upon the written 
request of Rev. Otis A. Skinner and eleven others, 
members of the Committee, "to take into considera- 
tion the proceedings of the Committee of schools in 
District No. 18." After the request for the meeting 
had been read, Mr. Wightman presented the following 
preamble and resolves : 

Whereas, the 62d section of the Rules of this Board 
declares that no District Committee shall consist of less than 



236 ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 

half as many members as there are schools in the district; 
and 

Whereas, the Committee of District No. 18 have neglected 
to conform to the above-mentioned rule, having had for a 
long time past but four members for the nine schools in their 
district; and 

Whereas, at a regular meeting of the Executive Commit- 
tee, held in June last, the Committee of District No. 18 were 
duly notified of their violation of the rules, and the necessity 
of complying with them, which notification has been neglected 
to the present time ; and the Committee have continued to 
exercise the rights and prerogatives of a District Committee, 
without being legally constituted so to act; and 

Whereas, they have assumed powers not delegated nor 
sanctioned by the letter or spirit of our rules, inasmuch as 
they have discharged faithful and competent teachers from a 
number of schools in their district, without reasonable cause, 
and have elected other teachers in their places, proceeding 
upon a system of arbitrary acts, tending to injure the charac- 
ter and integrity of the Primary School Board, in the minds 
of the citizens, and to weaken the confidence of the teachers 
in the legislative powers of this Board : therefore, 

Resolved, That the Committee of District No. 18 have 
exercised executive powers, without being composed of the 
number of members required by the rules, or being legally 
authorized so to act. 

Resolved, That their proceedings, in regard to the teachers 
in their district, while thus legally disqualified by our rules, 
are not, and cannot, be sanctioned by this Board. 

Mr. Wightinan proceeded to relate the circumstances 
of tlie case, and read several letters that had passed 
between the Committee and teachers of the district. 
Mr. Wales responded in defence of the Committee, 
and made sundry explanations in regard to their action. 



ANNALS OF THE PRDIAKY SCHOOLS. 237 

and submitted a "protest" from them, against any 
interference in the affairs of the district committed 
to their charge. 

The principles involved in this case, as to the powers 
of the District Committees, and the right of aj)peal 
from their decisions to the Executive Committee and 
the whole Board, led to a long and interesting dis- 
cussion, and resulted in passing the first resolution, 
by a vote of forty-four yeas to fifteen nays ; and of 
the second resolution by a vote of thirty-seven yeas 
to ten nays. 

On motion of Mr. E. Hobart, it was 

Voted, That District No. 18, now being without a legally 
constituted Committee, be placed in charge of the Executive 
Committee, in connection with the remaining members of the 
District Committee. 

After the passage of this vote the Board adjourned. 

At a special meeting, held November 6th, the Joint 
Committee, in whose care the schools in District No. 
18 were placed, made a rej)ort by the Chairman of 
the Executive Committee, (Mr. Wightman,) "recom- 
mending five gentlemen to fill the vacancies in said 
district ; and that these gentlemen and the remaining 
members of the District Committee be organized, 
according to the rules, as the Committee of District 
No. 18, and that the schools of that district be then 
placed in their charge." 

The report was accepted, and the following gentle- 
men elected, viz. : Albert T. Minot, Charles E. Cook, 
Alexander H. Rice, Joseph H. Allen, George W. 
McLellan. 



238 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

It was also ^^ Voted, That Mr. George R. Sampson, 
of District No. 18, bp requested to call the first meet- 
ing of the present Committee, for organization, under 
the rules, without delay." 

In conformity with this vote, a meeting of the Com- 
mittee was called, and organized by the choice of a 
Chairman and Secretary ; but as the new members of 
the Committee would not agree to the action or policy 
of the original members, in regard to the teachers, 
the subject was again brought before the Board at their 
meeting, December 4th, in a report from Mr. Charles 
Edward Cook, the Chairman of the District Committee, 
in which a detailed statement of their proceedings was 
given, from which it appeared " that the three original 
members of the Committee had resigned; and after 
a careful investigation of the circumstances, the Com- 
mittee had deemed it their duty to reinstate the teach- 
ers, and restore the schools to the same position as they 
were in July last." 

The report was accepted, and this subject, probably 
the most exciting which had ever agitated the Board, 
was brought to a final close, by the election of Joshua 
B. Fowle, William Willett, Aaron H. Bean, and Theo- 
dore P. Hale, to fill the vacancies in the Committee of 
this district. 

1850. 

The first meeting of the Primary School Committee, 
after their appointment by the Grammar Board, was 
held February 5th. 

Joseph Smith, Esq., was chosen Chairman, pro tern., 
who read the certificate of appointment, and authority 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 239 

to organize themselves and adopt such rules and regula- 
tions for the schools as they may deem expedient. 
Alvan Simonds was chosen Secretary, pro tern., and it 
was " Voted, That the Rules and Regulations of the last 
year be adopted by this Board until otherwise ordered." 

A Committee of one from each district was appointed 
to nominate a candidate for President, who subsequently 
recommended Francis Brown, Esq., for that office, and he 
was duly elected. Alvan Simonds, Esq., was also re- 
elected Secretary, by a unanimous vote. 

Executive Committee — Joseph M. Wightman, Chair- 
man; Alvan Simonds, Secretary ; John Woart, Dexter 
W. Wiswell, Samuel F. McCleary, Jr., David Kimball, 
James F. Clark, Oliver Dimon, Charles Brooks, Thomas 
S. Wright, George M. Randall, F. F. Raymond, Alexan- 
der H. Rice, Charles A. Turner, Francis Brown, Benja- 
min H. Greene, Theodore D. Cook, Luther Parks, Jr., 
Thomas Wilder, William H. Calrow, Albert Bowker, 
Moses J. Gove. 

An order was received from the Grammar School 
Committee, appointing Messrs. J. M. Wightman, Fred- 
eric Emerson, and Rollin H. Neale, a Committee, to be 
joined by this Board, "to consider and report what 
changes, if any, ought to be made in the present 
organization of the Grammar and Primary School 
Committees." Upon which, Messrs. L. S. Cragin, David 
Kimball, and Alvan Simonds were joined on the part 
of Primary School Board. 

On motion of Mr. 0. Dimon, it was unanimously 

Resolved, That the late Chairman of this Board, Eben 
Jones, Esq., has rendered services to the Public Schools 
and the pubHc interest, as a member of this Board, for 



240 ANNALS OF THE PKIMARY SCHOOLS. 

fourteen years, and as President of it for the past three 
years, which prompt an expression of our thanks, and occa- 
sion our sincere regret that his connection with the Board 
has necessarily terminated.* 

Resolved, That the Secretary transmit to Mr. Jones a copy 
of the foregoing resolution. 

The regular quarterly meetiug was held, March 12th, 
when the Chairman of the Executive Committee sub- 
mitted the Semi-Annual Eeport on the condition of 
the schools for the six months previous to January 
31st. At this time there were one hundred and 
seventy-six schools, containing eleven thousand one 
hundred and thirty-eight pupils. The average per 
centage of attendance, .76. Eight hundred and 
fifty-four examinations had been made of the schools 
by the Committee, and two thousand eight hundred 
and fifty-eight visits were recorded by the teachers. 

In addition to the usual abstract, and in conclusion, 
the Executive Committee made some suggestions on 
the subjects of schools and school government, from 
which we copy the following paragraphs: 

The presence of the Local Committees at this Semi-Annual 
examination has been alluded to in a number of the reports 
as a very gratifying circumstance ; and the Committee would 
also notice in this connection, that from a careful examination 
of the returns, it is shown that in those districts and schools 
in which the Local Committees have devoted the most atten- 
tion, the schools arc higher in character and proficiency than 
any others ; and, as it has been expressed by one of the 
examiners, " the confident tone of the reader, the upraised 
head, the fixed, attentive eye and listening ear, are unfailing 

*Mr. Jones had removed from the city. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 241 

signs that the Local Committee of such a school has been 
attentive to his duty." 

Ventilation is another subject of great importance ; and 
the Executive Committee deem it necessary that some steps 
should be taken to bring this matter before the proper 
authorities. If; by the Rules, ventilation is to be required of 
our teachers, some means should be furnished which does 
not involve the health and life of the children. In a large 
number of the schools there is no other method of ventilation 
than that of opening the windows upon the backs and heads 
of the children, a method as absurd as it is cruel and 
dangerous. It may be said by some that this is not neces- 
sary; if it is not thus ventilated, the choice between the evils 
is very little ; for without it the foetid air, produced by the 
respiration and the exhalation from the persons and clothing 
of fifty or sixty children, whose poverty may prevent the 
necessary change for cleanliness, will, in a short time, render 
the odor and atmosphere of the room intolerable. Such a 
state of things ought not to exist. The Grammar Schools 
are almost universally well ventilated ; and the contrast 
between them ajid our Primary Schools is altogether un- 
reasonable. The children in our schools are of a more 
tender age, and their little bodies are more susceptible of 
injury from exposure, or the neglect of proper ventilation; 
and while we can but rejoice at the fostering care of the 
city displayed towards the Grammar Schools in this respect, 
we feel that the Primary Schools have as high, and in some 
respects a higher claim upon their bounty and attention. 

The report was accepted, and the following orders 
were, on motion of Dr. J. Odin, Jr., adopted : 

Ordered, That from and after the passage of this order, the 
sum of $25, appropriated by the City Council for the care 
of each school-room, be separated from the amount of the 
quarterly payment on the teachers' bills. 
31 



242 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Ordered, That the Executive Committee be directed to take 
such measures as shall place the amount of $25 for each 
school, under the control of the several District Committees. 

Messrs. Brooks, Dexter and Turner having declined 
to serve on the Executive Committee, Messrs. James B. 
Dow, Charles E. Wiggin, and George W. Parmenter, 
were elected to their places. 

December 3. The subject of vacations in the Pri- 
mary not corresponding to those in the Grammar 
Schools, continued to be agitated in the Board, and 
w^as finally submitted to a Committee, who reported 
the following rule as a substitute for that in relation 
to the vacations of this Board : 

The holidays and vacations of the Primary Schools shall 
be the same as are granted to the Grammar Schools, 
either by the rules of the Grammar School Committee, or 
by order of the Mayor, and also the day of the annual 
visitation of the Grammar Schools. 

Mr. Wightman submitted the following amendment 
to the rules, which was subsequently adopted: 

Any Committee wishing to establish a new school in their 
district, shall send a request to the Executive Committee at 
least two weeks before the quarterly meetings ; and the 
Executive Committee shall examine into the expediency of 
complying with the request, and report at the succeeding 
quarterly meeting. 

The Executive Committee reported in favor of the 
introduction into the Primary Schools of the Tables 
for Training the Organs of Speech, the Punctuation 
and the Numeral Table, and recommended that 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 243 

they be furnished to all those schools not at present 
supplied. 

18 51. 

The appointment of the Primary School Committee 
having been made by the Grammar Board, the meet- 
ing for organization was held January 2Tth. Benja- 
min P. Richardson, Esq., was chosen Chairman ^;ro tcm., 
and the Board organized by the election of the fol- 
lowino; officers : 

President — Francis Brown. 

Secretary — Alvan Simonds. 

Executive Committee — Joseph M. Wightman, Chair- 
man ; Alvan Simonds, Secretary ; Levi Tucker, William 
H. Learnard, Jr., Chas. E, Wiggin, Samuel F. McCleary, 
Jr., James B. Dovr, Francis Brown, Benjamin H. Greene, 
Alexander H. Rice, Luther Parks, Jr., A. B. Child, Wm. 
H. Calrow, Moses J. Gove, David Kimball, Charles 
Demond, Oliver Ditson, Thomas Wilder, George M. 
Randall, Albert Bowker, George W. Parmenter, Fred. 
W. Sawyer. 

March 10. The Semi- Annual Rej)ort was read by 
Mr. Wi2;htman, Chairman of Executive Committee. 

Whole number of schools, January 31st, . . 18&' 
Whole number of pupils, January 31st, . . 11,788 

June 5. A request, signed by Thomas Ranney and 
others, that the phonetic system of teaching be intro- 
duced on trial into two of the Primary Schools, was 
referred to the Executive Committee. 

September 2. The Semi-Annual Report of the Execu- 
tive Committee was presented by the Secretary. 



244 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

"Whole number of schools, July 31, . . . 189 
Whole number of pupils, ..... 12,110 
"Whole number attending to sewing, . . 1,444 

Whole number of foreign parentage, . . 6,870 
Whole number of examinations by Committees, 1,424 

A report was received from the same Committee, 
upon the subject of phonetic instruction, recommend- 
ing that the petition of T. Eanney and others be com- 
plied with ; but not expressing any opinion of the 
Committee in regard to its value or utility as a sys- 
tem. The report was laid on the table. 

The Executive Committee, to whom was referred 
the subject of introducing the Tables for Training the 
Organs of Speech, for Punctuation, and for Numera- 
tion, into those schools not already supplied, reported 
the following: 

Resolved, That the introduction into some of the Primary 
Schools of the Table for Training the Organs of Speech, 
the Punctuation Table, and the Numeral Table, has much 
conduced to the progress of the children, and facilitated 
the arduous labors of the teachers; and this Board recom- 
mend that they be furnished to those schools not already 
supplied. 

Read, accepted, and the resolve passed. 

The same Committee reported adverse to the estab- 
lishment of a new school in District No. 14 ; and also 
that measures must be taken to supply accommodations 
for School No. 6, East Boston, the room in which the 
school was located having been burned. School-rooms 
would also be required for the Primary Schools in the 
Hancock School-house, as the rooms now occupied were 
needed for the Grammar School classes. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 245 

On motion of Mr. Wightman, it was 

Voted, That Messrs. Wightman, Dow and Fowle be a Com- 
mittee to confer with the Committee on Public Buildings of 
the City Council, that the ordinance may be so modified that 
the vote of the Executive Committee may be regarded as 
sufficient for providing of the necessary rooms and furniture 
for the temporary accommodation of primary schools. 

At the quarterly meeting, December 2, the Executive 
Committee reported in favor of new schools in Districts 
Nos. 10 and 11, and adverse to the request of District 
No. 9. 

The Special Committee, to whom the subject of a 
new school in District No. 14 was referred, reported 
that they had, under the powers granted to them, made 
such changes in the schools of Districts Nos. 13 and 
14, as would, in their opinion, render a new school 
unnecessary. 

The report of the Committee on the subject of 
phonetics, referred over from the September meeting, 
was taken from the table and ordered to be printed, 
with the other matters relating to the subject, for 
the use of the Board. 

1852. 

January 27. The Committee having been duly ap- 
pointed by the School Committee, were assembled for 
organization, and called to order by Mr. L. S. Cragin. 
Mr. Thomas Wilder was elected Chairman pro tern., and 
Charles Demond, Secretary pro tern. 

A Committee of one from each district being ap- 
pointed to nominate candidates for President and 



246 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

Secretary, reported the names of Charles Edward 
Cook for President, and Alvan Simonds for Secretary ; 
both of whom were elected by ballot. 

Executive Committee — Joseph M. Wightman, Chairman; 
Charles Demond, Secretary ; John J. Meston, Thomas 
Eestieaux, W. H. Learnard, Jr., E. D. G. Palmer, Abra- 
ham G. Wyman, Thomas B. Hawkes, David Kimball, 
Alvan Simonds, Frederic W. Sawyer, Wm. H. Dennett, 
Thomas Wilder, George M. Randall, Benj. H. Greene, 
Samuel B. Cruft, Vfilliam S. Thacher, John A. Cum- 
mings, Albert Bowker, William H. Cairo w, Jackson Rich- 
ardson, Charles E. Cook. 

At the quarterly meeting of the Board, March 2, a 
communication was received from Alvan Sbionds, Esq., 
who, on account of his health, had been unable to 
attend to his duties as Secretary, since his election in 
January, and resigned his office, in the following letter 
to the President : 



Boston, Marcli 2d, 1852. 

Charles E. Cook, Esq., President of the Primary School 
Committee of Boston: 

At the annual meeting of the Committee on the 27th 
January last, they were pleased for the twelfth time, unani- 
mously, to elect me as their Secretary. It seems to be 
my duty now to resign that office, which resignation you 
will please to communicate to the Board this evening. 
Since I have held the office, the number of the schools 
have increased from one hundred to one hundred and 
ninety-two, and the members of the Committee have nearly 
doubled in number. The nature of the office has brought 
me in connection with the various members of the Board 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 24 T 

very frequently, not only at its meetings, but on numerous 
sub-committees, as we met in our daily walks, in the schools, 
and as we sought each other's advice and information, in 
the discharge of our important duties. This intercourse 
with them has been uniformly pleasant; and for all their 
kindness, courtesy and aid, I now desire, through you, to 
return them my sincere and heartfelt thanks. With the 
large body of teachers, past and present, I have often met. 
In May, 1849, it was my privilege, in the discharge of my 
duties, to do what I believe no other person has ever 
done; that was, to visit every school in the city, examine 
every "record book," and spend a few minutes in every 
school-room. It may not be out of place, therefore, for 
me to bear testimony also to the general high character 
of the teachers for moral worth, and for adaptation to 
the high and noble purposes in which they are engaged. 

The more thoroughly any one becomes acquainted with 
the great work that is daily going on in our Primary 
Schools, the more he must be convinced of their import- 
ance. Here are one hundred and ninety teachers in daily 
intercourse with eleven thousand pupils. More than half 
of these children are of foreign origin ; and I am per- 
suaded that our Primary Schools are doing more to Amer- 
icanize that class of our population than- all other causes 
combined. 

In making up the reports, from time to time, I have 
been astonished to notice the amount of gratuitous labor 
'performed by very many members of the Committee, indi- 
cating a devotion to their duties, and an appreciation of 
their responsibilities worthy of all praise. 

It is to be hoped that any movements made to change 
the present mode of supervision of these schools, will be 
made with calm consideration, and that they will be put 
in practice only upon a clear conviction of having found 
"a more excellent way." After twenty years' active ser- 



248 ANNALS OF THE PRBIARY SCHOOLS. 

vice upon the Board, it appears to me that in practice the 
present system has done, and is doing so well, that no 
mere theonj should take its place. It is fashionable in some 
quarters to call the Primary School Committee an " anomaly.''^ 
It may be so,- but when such results are produced in the 
moral and intellectual improvement of such a multitude 
of immortal beings, even an " anomaly " may be preferable 
to a succession of doubtful and ever-changing experiments. 
With renewed thanks to yourself, and every member 
of the Board, 

I am your obedient servant, 

Alvan Simonds. 

The resignation of Mr. Simonds was accepted ; and 
on motion of Mr. Cragin, it was 

Voted, That the unanimous thanks of this Committee be 
tendered to Alvan Simonds, Esq., our late Secretary, for 
the prompt, efficient, thorough, and satisfactory manner in 
which he has for so many years discharged the duties of 
that office. 

The Board then proceeded to elect a Secretary, 
which resulted in the choice of Charles Demond, 
Esq. 

The President read a communication from the Sec- 
retary of the Committee on Public Instruction, in- 
forming the Board that the Joint Committee from 
the City Council and the Grammar School Board, 
had passed the following vote, viz.: 

Voted, That the said Committee invite the members of 
the Primary School Board to appoint a Committee to meet 
and confer with the Joint Committee, in relation to the 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 249 

subject of changing the organization of the Primary School 
Board. 

On motion of Mr. Minot, the President appointed 
Messrs. F. Brown, L. S. Cragin, Joseph Smith, David 
Kimball, John Odin, Jr., Albert T. Minot, and B. P. 
Richardson, as a Committee of Conference, to which 
the President was subsequently added. 

Mr. "VVightman, in behalf of the Executive Commit- 
mittee, reported the vacancies which had occurred 
in that body, viz. : T. Restieaux, W. H. Dennett, Geo. 
M. Randall, B. H. Greene, Alvan Simonds, Charles 
E. Cook, and J. A. Cummings; and recommended to 
fill their places, Charles E. Wiggin, Oliver Ditson, 
J. B. Dow, Samuel Tolman, Caleb Gill, Otis Kimball, 
and Asa B. Snow. 

The report was accepted, and the persons recom- 
mended declared elected as members of the Executive 
Committee. 

The Semi-Annual Report of the Executive Com- 
mittee, compiled from the teachers' returns, to Jan- 
uary 31, and from the examinations of the Executive 
Committee, in February, was submitted by the Chair- 
man, from which the following statistics are presented : 



Whole number of schools. 



Whole number of pupils. 
Whole number of pupils of foreign parentage 
'. Averao;e number of examinations of each school 
Average number of visits to each school. 
Average per centage of attendance, . . .78 

The report gave an abstract of the condition of 
the schools, and recommended some improvements 



190 

11,868 
6,605 



1 



32 



250 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

that were required for the comfort of the larger 
pupils, and concluding with the following votes, 
which were unanimously adopted : 

Voted, That the Executive Committee apply to the Com- 
mittee on Public Buildings of the City Council, for suit- 
able chairs and desks, for the use of the larger and 
advanced scholars in School No. 8, District No. 9, on the 
Western Avenue. 

Voted, That the Executive Committee be requested to 
take into consideration and report upon the expediency 
of providing some form, or desk, for the Intermediate and 
Primary Schools. 

Voted, That the entrance to the school-house in Bum- 
stead Court is dangerous to the pupils attending the school; 
and the Committee on Public Buildings of the City Council 
are respectfully requested to adopt some measures to rem- 
edy the evil. 

June 1. Quarterly Meeting. — The rules of the Gram- 
mar Board, requiring a report annually, in relation 
to the condition of the Primary Schools, were read ; 
whereupon it was ^' Voted, That the subject be re- 
ferred to the Executive Committee, with instructions 
to make that report in behalf of the Primary School 
Board." 

On motion of Mr. Mead, it was 

Ordered, That the Executive Committee be requested to 
take into consideration and report at some subsequent 
meeting, whether, in their opinion, the interests of the Pri- 
mary Schools cannot be promoted, by the adoption of some 
of the suggestions made by the Superintendent of the 
Public Schools, in his late report; or whether some change 
in the classification of the pupils cannot advantageously 
be made. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 



251 



On motion of Mr. Otis Kimball, it was 

Ordered, That the Executive Committee consider and 
report upon the propriety of establishing geographical limits 
to the several Primary School Districts. 

September 7. Quarterlu Meeiing. — The Semi-Annual 
Report of the Executive Committee was read by the 
Secretary, by which it appeared that the 

Whole number of schools, July 31, 1852, was . 193 
Number of pupils, . . . . . .11,970 

Number of pupils sent to Grammar School last 

six months, . . . . . .1,497 

Number of pupils prepared for admission, . 1,431 
Average attendance to each school, . . . * 48 
Per centage of attendance to each school, . .79 

Number who attend to sewing, . . . 1,360 

Number of foreign parentage, .... 6,788 

Number over eight years of age, . . . 3,076 
Number imder five years of age, . . . 1,836 
Number of examinations last six months, . . 1,722 
Number of visits last six months, . . . 3,704 
Mr. Wightman, in behalf of the Executive Com- 
mittee, made a report, returning the resolutions re- 
ferred to them at the last meeting of the Board, 
in relation to geographical limits, and to the report 
of the Superintendent of Public Schools, stating their 
reasons for so doing ; and recommended the jDassage 
of the following resolution, which was adopted : 

Resolved, That in view of the present position and uncer- 
tain action of the City Government, in relation to the 
Primary School system, it is inexpedient for this Board 
to take any further action upon the orders in relation to the 



252 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

geographical limits of the districts, or the suggestions of 
the Superintendent of Public Schools, in his late report. 

On motion of Dr. John Odin, Jr., the Executive Com- 
mittee were requested to have printed one thousand 
copies of an abstract of the Semi-Annual Report, 
and of the report on the subject of geographical 
limits. 

1853. 

February 8. The Primary School Committee having 
been appointed by the Grammar Board, held their first 
meeting this evening, and the following ofi&cers were 
elected : 

President — Charles Edward Cook. 

Secretary — Charles Demond. 

Executive Committee — Joseph M. Wightraan, Chairman ; 
Charles Demond, Secretary ; James B. Dow, E. D. G. 
Palmer, Thomas Wilder, William H. Calrow, Oliver 
Ditson, Caleb Gill, Abraham G. Wyman, Thomas B. 
Hawkes, John J. Meston, Jackson Richardson, Philo 
Sanford, N. C. Stevens, E. W. Blake, James N. Sykes, 
Stephen Tilton, Jr., William Read, Samuel G. Bowdlear, 
Isaiah Faxon, Henry L. Dalton, S. J. M. Homer. 

On motion of James B. Dow, it was 

Voted, That a Committee be appointed to take into con- 
sideration the subject whether it is expedient or desirable 
to make any alteration in the organization of this Board, 
to render it more efficient in promoting the best welfare 
of the Primary Schools of this city, and report at a future 
meeting. 

March 14. Quarterly Meeting. — The Semi-Annual 
Report of the Executive Committee was presented, by 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 253 

the Chairman, and one thousand copies ordered to be 
printed. The following orders, appended to the report, 
were adopted : 

Ordered, That a Committee of five be appointed to prepare 
a revision of the Rules and Regulations of this Board, and 
to recommend such alterations and amendments as they may 
deem expedient, and report the same to the Board at the 
next quarterly meeting. 

Ordered, That a Committee of one from each district be 
appointed to take into consideration and report upon a 
reorganization of the schools into nev?- districts, so that 
the number of schools in each district may be more conve- 
nient and uniform. 

Resolved, That the salaries of the teachers in the Primary 
Schools should be the same as is paid to the female teachers 
in the Grammar Schools ; and that the Executive Committee 
be directed to lay this subject before the proper authorities. 

December 15. The Committee on the Revision of the 
Rules submitted their report, which was adopted, and 
two hundred and fifty copies of the same were ordered 
to be printed. 

The Board also deemed it inexpedient to make any 
reoro-anization of the districts. 

On the recommendation of the Executive Commit- 
tee, a new school was established in Porter street. East 
Boston ; and the Secretary was directed to request the 
Committee on Public Buildings of the City Council, 
to provide the usual furniture for this school. 

1854. 

January 31. The first meeting of the members of 
the Primary School Committee for the current year, 
was held this evening. 



254 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

A communication was read from Hon. Charles 
Edward Cook, declining to be a candidate for Presi- 
dent, after which the Board was organized by the 
choice of the following officers : 

President — Alvan Simonds. 

Secretary — Charles Demond. 

Executive Committee — Joseph M. Wightman, Chair- 
man; Charles Demond, Secretary; James B. Dow, E. 
D. G. Palmer, William H. Calrow, Oliver Ditson, Caleb 
Gill, Abraham G. Wyman, Thomas B. Hawkes, Jackson 
Richardson, Philo Sanford, N. C. Stevens, James .N. 
Sjkes, Stephen Tilton, Jr., "William Read, Samuel G. 
Bowdlear, S. J. M. Homer, Elijah Stearns, N. P. Mann, 
Edmund T. Eastman, H. W. WilUams, Thomas F. Caldi- 
cott, Charles A. Turner. 

On motion of Mr. Wightman, it was 

Voted,^ That the several District Committees be requested, 
annually, to select either their Chairman or their Secretary 
to provide articles required by the teachers, in conformity 
■with the order of the City Council, passed May 30, 1853. 

Voted, That the Secretary of each district be requested to 
furnish the Secretary of this Board with the length of time 
of service of each teacher of the Primary Schools in his 
district, on or before the fifteenth day of April next. 

On motion of Mr. Otis Kimball, it was 

Voted, That the thanks of this Board be presented to the 
Hon. Charles Edward Cook, for the faithful, courteous, and 
dignified manner in which he has performed the duties of 
presiding officer during the past year; and that a copy of this 
vote, signed by the President, be transmitted to him. 

March 14. The Semi-Annual Report of the Ex- 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 255 

ecutive Committee was presented bj Mr. Yfightman, 
and ordered to be printed. 

A communication was received from the Grammar 
Board, announcing a change in the hours of opening 
the schools under their charge ; and the rules of the 
Primary Schools were amended to conform thereto. 

September 12. Mr. Demond, in behalf of the Ex- 
ecutive Committee, read the Semi-Annual Eeport, 
which was accepted, and ordered to be printed. 

By an amendment to the City Charter, which had 
been adopted by the citizens, the Grammar School 
Committee was increased to seventy-two members, 
who were to have direct charge of the Primary 
Schools, and supersede the organization of the Pri- 
mary School Committee. As the act in relation to 
a new Committee would go into operation on the 
first Monday in January, 1855, the following com- 
munication was addressed to the City Solicitor: 

Boston, November 2d, 1854. 

Hon. George S. Hillard, City Solicitor : 

Sir: — The undersigned, officers of the Primary School 
Committee of Boston, desire to ask your advice and opinion 
upon certain points relating to the operation of the new City 
Cliarter upon that Board. 

Under the vote and rule on page second of the pamphlet, 
herewith transmitted,* the present Primary School Committee 
were appointed, with the powers and duties therein named; 
and have proceeded to execute said trust, under the rules 
adopted in the same pamphlet. They have elected teachers, 
according to section 9, page 12, most of them, for the school 

* Rules and Regulations of the Primaiy Schools. 



256 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

year, ending with July next, and have given them certificates 
of appointment. 

It has been usual for the Grammar School Committee to 
appoint the Primary Board near the close of January in each 
year, and for the previous Committee to have charge of the 
schools until the next annual appointment, and to receive the 
returns and make up the Semi- Annual Report to the 31st of 
January, annually. 

By the City Charter, just adopted, to take effect on the 
first Monday of January next, in sections 54, 55 and 56, it is 
generally supposed that the present Primary School Commit- 
tee is abolished. We would, therefore, respectfully request 
of you information on the following points, viz : 

First. When do the duties of the present Primary School 
Committee cease ? On the first Monday in January, when 
the charter takes effect; on the second Monday in January, 
when the Committee of seventy-two are to organize; or 
should they continue to act through the month of January, 
and make up the Semi- Annual Report ? And at what time 
is it proper for them to surrender the one hundred and 
ninety-seven schools under tlieir charge, with all their 
records, books and papers, to the School Committee chosen 
under the new charter ? 

Second. When does the time of service of the teachers 
cease, under their present appointment? and can they 
properly continue and be the legal instructors of the schools, 
after the first or second Monday in January next? 

Third. Will it be competent for the persons chosen as 
School Committee, by virtue of the new charter, under the 
power given by section 55, to " choose such subordinate 
officers as they may deem expedient," to appoint any num- 
ber of persons which they may judge suitable ; to aid them 
in the care and examinations of the Primary Schools, with- 
out compensation ; somewhat in the same manner as the 
Primary School Committee have done in past years ? 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 257 

"We require an answer to the first question, that we may 
not, on the one hand, seem to desire to hold our offices 
too long, nor, on the other, to abandon a post of duty at 
too early a day. 

We require an answer to the second question for the 
information of the teachers. 

The thhrdi, question is prompted by the deep interest we 
feel in the Primary Schools, from our long connection 
with them ; and our desire that the new plan in regard to 
them should be fully understood, and put in operation, 
from the first, in the best manner, without subjecting them 
to experiments or want of proper supervision. 

We apprehend that some gentlemen, whose services have 
been found valuable on the Grammar School Committee, 
will shrink from the service if the whole labor and care 
of nearly two hundred Primary Schools were added to their 
labors. We believe, also, that if it be legal and proper to 
receive the voluntary and unpaid services of many of our 
active, benevolent citizens, like some of those who have 
heretofore served for many years on the Primary School 
Committee, great advantages would result to the schools. 

As the quarterly meeting of the Board occurs on the 2d 
Tuesday in December, if your duties will permit you to 
favor us with a reply to the foregoing in season for the 
meeting, it will greatly oblige 

Yours respectfully, 

Alvan Simonds, President. 

Joseph M. Wightman, CKn Ex. Com. 

Charles Demond, Secretary. 

In his reply, the City Solicitor stated, that in his 
opinion — 

The duties of the Primary School Committee would cease 
on the organization of the new Grammar Board. That the 



258 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

teachers would continue their term of service under the 
new organization ; and that it would not be proper for the 
new Board to substantially continue the Primary School 
Committee, inasmuch as the former had been largely in- 
creased, upon the express understanding that the latter 
body was to be superseded. 

This correspondence was submitted to the Board 
at their meeting, December 5th, by the Chairman 
of the Executive Committee ; and on his motion the 
following orders were read and laid upon the table • 

Ordered, That the Secretary be, and he hereby is, author- 
ized and instructed to address a communication to the School 
Committee, who are to meet for organization on the second- 
Monday of January next, and inform them, in behalf of this 
Committee, that the schools, records and papers of which 
the Primary School Committee have had charge, are subject 
to the order and direction of said School Committee. 

Ordered, That the Secretaries of the several districts are 
hereby requested to forward to the Secretary of the Board, 
the records of their several districts, on or before the second 
Monday of January next. 

On motion of Mr. Marvin, it was 

Voted, That the Executive Committee be requested to draw 
up a brief history of the Primary School Committee, from 

their organization to the present time. 
« 

After which, the Board adjourned to meet on the 
evening of the first Tuesday in January next ensuing. 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 259 



1855. 

FINAL MEETING OF THE BOARD. 

January 2. In conformity with the vote passed at 
the preceding meeting, Mr. Wightman, in behalf of 
the Executive Committee, presented a historical sketch 
of the Primary School Board, from its first establish- 
ment, which was recommitted to Messrs. Simonds, 
Demond, and Wightman, with a request that one 
thousand copies of the same be printed for the use 
of the Boa^rd, if the Committee deem it expedient. 

The orders in relation to the records read at the 
last meeting, were taken from the table and passed. 

The business of the meeting having been thus 
accomplished, Mr. Wightman submitted the following 
resolution : 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be presented to 
Alvan Simonds, Esq., for the very acceptable manner in which 
he has performed the duties of President of the Board. 

The President responded thus: 

Gentlemen of the Frimary School Committee : — Accept raj 
warmest thanks for the vote just passed — for the kindness 
ever manifested towards me, and especially for your friendly 
cooperation and sympathy during the past year, when called 
to preside in your meetings, and that you have tlirown the 
kind mantle of charity over my inexperience and shortcomings. 

Our duties, as members of the Primary School Committee, 
are now closing. Our appointment, received one year since, 
is about to expire. Many of us have been honored with 



260 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

reappointments from year to year. For one, it has been my 
privilege, by reelection from time to time, to have been a 
member of this body for twenty-one successive years. 

I can recognize among the members the names of Bum- 
stead, Marvin, Cragin, and Brown, who are my seniors in 
office. It is because the Grammar School Committee (them- 
selves subject to annual changes) have been pleased to avail 
themselves of the continued services of gentlemen upon this 
Board, that the impression had obtained in many minds, that 
this was a perpetual self-appointing Committee. As a matter 
of fact, our existence has been (as legally defined) only like 
that of a sub-committee, and expired annually. Towards the 
selection of no officer or officers in this city has a more rigid 
scrutiny been observed. We have had no money at our dis- 
posal, we have asked or desired no pecuniary reward; no 
suppers, no excursions, as a body, or as sub-committees, at 
the public expense, have been ours. 

By the new city charter the number of the Grammar School 
Committee is increased, and the whole care of the Primary 
Schools is transferred to their hands. We take leave of the 
pleasures, the cares, the labors and the responsibilities of the 
office, without any regret, except that we have been no more 
faithful in improving the opportunities afforded us for doing 
good. Whatever the private views of some members may 
be, as to the utility of the change, it bepomes not me to 
prophesy evil, nor prejudge unfavorably the operations of 
the new system. We love the cause of primary instruction 
too well ; our experience leads us to see and feel its import- 
ance too deeply, for any wish even to find' a place in our 
hearts, except an earnest hope and expectation of its in- 
creased prosperity. Our desires are that these schools may 
have a more vigilant and effective supervision, and a more 
enlarged success under the new arrangements where they 
are now to be placed. We recognize many names among 
those to have charge of them of enlarged experience, and 



ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 261 

whose delight it is to do good. By their devotion of the 
time needed for the examination and supervision of these 
schools, we may safely hope that under the new organization 
even brighter days are in reserve for them. 

Allow me to congratulate you, my friends, and all our fel- 
low-citizens, on the success which has attended our schools, 
and on the good accomplished by them. A devoted attention 
to their wants and interests has led you to adopt a course 
of study, a system of supervision and of examinations of 
these schools, which have been most beneficial in their results, 
and which have stood the test of experience. Great improve- 
ments have also been made in school buildings — in the ven- 
tilation of the school-rooms — in providing comfortable seats, 
and such physical exercises within and without the schools as 
secure health and prevent weariness. A thorough examina- 
tion of candidates for teachers, and great care in their selec- 
tion, Iiave been well repaid by a knowledge of their fitness and 
their success. The frequent visits to every school, and the 
monthly examinations by the Local Committees, have aided 
and cheered the teacher — have encouraged and instructed 
the pupils. 

The system of thorough examinations semi-annually, by the 
District Committee collectively, or by the Executive Commit- 
tee, when the schools of each district were brought together; 
when the faults or excellences of each school were power- 
fully though silently presented to the notice of each instructor, 
by contrasts, has admirably contributed to raise the character 
of the schools. The semi-annual gatherings of the teachers 
to hear the reports of the defects or excellences found in the 
schools, have been attended with favorable results. You have 
bestowed much time and labor to the care of the schools. 
As evidence of this, I may point to the abstract of the teach- 
ers' reports in July last, for the preceding six months. They 
record in that time one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four 
examinations, or an average of more than nine to a school. 



262 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

and three thousand sis hundred and thirty-five visits, or more 
than eighteen to each of the one hundred and ninety-seven 
schools. 

This constant •watchfulness, the aid and encouragement thus 
afforded to the teachers and pupils, has done much towards 
making our schools what they are, and cannot be dispensed 
with without essential injury. Nothing so much inspires and 
encourages the teacher, as the kind aid and advice of those 
who seek the welfare of the young. The good effect upon 
the children, of a friendly visit, and a few words of advice 
and of encouragement, is truly wonderful. It is but half 
known to those who have seen it, and, therefore, have re- 
alized it the most. There are those among you who have 
found and have given pleasure in frequent visits to these 
schools; in addressing a few words to these ever-listening 
little ones, on their studies, their manners, or their morals. 

Desires for good, and a conviction of the misery to which 
evil courses lead, have thus been excited in these little minds, 
which will have an effect upon them through their whole lives. 
Winning orators, wise men, great statesmen, may employ 
hours in eloquent and powerful speeches in halls of legisla- 
tion, and produce little practical effects, for they address 
minds already made up or bound down by party or sectional 
ties; but one who has the privilege of addressing the im- 
pressible minds in a Primary School wields a power for good 
not found in the Legislature or in the Congress of our nation. 
A trust so weighty, a privilege so exalted, has been yours. 
That it has been often well used, many can testify. 

The moral power of these schools is very great. They 
have done and are doing more, I almost believe, than all 
other causes combined to Americanize our foreign population. 

While in our Grammar Schools the use of the Bible is 
almost, if not wholly, confined to the reading of it by the 
teachers in the pupils' presence, in the Primary Schools it is 
a part of the regular reading lessons for the upper classes. 



ANNALS OP THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 263 

The Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer are so 
taught and imprinted on the memory as rarely to be for- 
gotten. The worship of the true God, and of him only, the 
evil nature and tendencies of the sins forbidden in the Deca- 
logue, and the pleasantness of the path of truth and virtue 
as there recommended, are thus deeply impressed on the 
minds of the young. 

Pain, pleasure and hope mingle in this parting hour. Pain, 
in severing our pleasant connections in the Board, and in 
reflecting on opportunities for doing good which we may have 
neglected ; pleasure, in the belief that we may have usefully 
served our beloved city and the young, in this humble 
capacity, and in the good accomplished ; hope, in the future 
prosperity and continued usefulness of these schools, and that 
there shall rise up from them, those who will uphold and 
maintain all the best interests of Boston, and will finally 
meet us, and the faithful teachers, and our beloved associates 
of precious memory who have gone before us, in the better 
" City of our God " above. 

The thanks of the Board were also voted to the 
Chairman of the Executive Committee, for the inter- 
esting report he had submitted, and for the manner 
in which he had discharged the duties of the office. 
A similar vote of thanks was tendered to the Secre- 
tary, who responded in a brief address. 

Many very interesting reminiscences and remarks 
were made by a number of the oldest members, among 
whom were Messrs. Marvin, Bumstead, Wilder, Marsh, 
Sleeper, Norcross, Weltch, Howland, Cragin, and Greene, 
all of whom expressed their deep interest in the 
schools, and their intention to continue to visit them 
as citizens, and unofficially to aid and cooperate with 
the new organization of the School Committee in sus- 



264 ANNALS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

taining and improving these educational nurseries of 
our city. 

Mr. Dale, Chairman in District No. 15, stated, " that 
on Wednesday morning the Committee propose to meet 
the First and Second Classes of all the schools in the 
district, eight in number, and that farewell speeches 
will then be made; the Committee will present each 
scholar with a Bible and dictionary." 

Mr. Wightman offered the following resolve, prefac- 
ing it with a few remarks, complimentary to the daily 
press : 

Resolved, That the thanks of the Primary School Commit- 
tee are due to the reporters and conductors of the public 
press, for their very full, elaborate and accurate reports of 
the proceedings of this Board. * 

The resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote; 
and at ten o'clock, P. M., the Boston Primary School 
Committee adjourned sine die. 



REVIEW. 



CAUSES OF THE DISSOLUTION OF THE PRIMARY BOARD. 

In reviewing these annals of the Primary Schools, 
from their commencement to the close of their exist- 
ence, as a separate organization, there is a strong feel- 
ing of gratification that so noble a mission, in the cause 
of popular education, should have been so successful in 
accomplishing the objects for which it was originally 
established. 

Its eminent conservatism, — its entire freedom from 
political bias in the selection of members, — the per- 
sonal responsibility of each member to a faithful dis- 
charge of his duties, — its careful watchfulness over 
the schools under their control, — its strict adherence 
to the powers conferred by the City Government, never 
exceeding, in a single instance, the authority with 
which it was invested, — and its acknowledged success 
for thirty-six successive years, renders an exj^lanation 
of the causes, which resulted in its dissolution, import- 
ant to a correct history, and an act of justice to the 
earnest and disinterested devotion of those citizens who 
have served upon the Board. 

We have already alluded to the proceedings of the 
Grammar Board, on the suggestions of the Secretary of 
the State Board of Education, (Hon. Horace Mann,) in 

34 



266 REVIEW. 

1838, as the first overt act of opposition to the organi- 
zation of the Primary Board ; and although other 
causes, undoubtedly, had an influence, it is to the resist- 
ance then made, to the course of the Secretary and his 
friends, that we may attribute much of the subsequent 
agitation, and endeavor to bring the Primary Schools 
under the exclusive control of the Grammar Board. 

The doctrine of "centralization," initiated by Mr. 
Mann, had its advocates, not only in the Grammar 
School Committee, but in the City Council, who were 
impressed with the idea that economy, progress, and 
complete success in the administration of our schools, 
were to be attained by making our whole educational 
system a " unit ; " and placing it under the supervision 
of a " Superintendent of Public Schools." 

The natural conservatism of our citizens, in regard to 
public matters, is proverbial; and the entire change 
proposed, in the organization of the Boston schools, 
excited considerable feeling, which became more or 
less partisan in its character, until it appears to have 
culminated in 1845, in an open issue between the Bos- 
ton schoolmasters and Mr. Mann. Impatient of criti- 
cism, and submitting to no opposition, the Secretary, in 
this controversy, exhibited his usual zeal in defence of 
his opinions, and aided by the prestige of his official 
station, and the active cooperation of his friends, the 
masters were silenced ; and means were adopted by 
which a large majority of those subsequently elected to 
the School Committee, were in favor of Mr. Mann and 
his peculiar views. From this time annual attempts 
were made to establish the office of " Superintendent ; " 
but as this required the concurrent action of both 



REVIEW. 267 

branches of the City Council and of the Grammar 
Board, the measure was defeated in one branch or the 
other until April, 1851. 

In the meantime it was evident that the Primary 
Board, being the exponent of the principle of " dif- 
fusion," instead of " centralization " of power, presented 
a serious barrier to the success of the new system ; and 
accordingly a regular crusade was commenced upon it, 
as an organization, in the inaugural address of the 
Mayor, (Hon. John P. Bigelow,) in January, 1850, in 
which he makes the following exposition of the grounds 
of opposition to the Primary Board : 

I have reason to believe that the Public Schools, in general, 
were never in a more satisfactory state than at the present 
time ; and that the Committees having them in charge, during 
the past year, have faithfully and efficiently performed their 
duties. But I cannot overlook the fact that one of these 
Committees (that having direction of the Primary Schools) 
is constituted in a way which is entirely anomalous to the 
genius of our institutious — although the members themselves 
are deservedly held in grateful respect by the people for 
their services. 

This Board, which consists of about one hundred and 
seventy individuals, (one to each school) having charge of 
more than half the public pupils, and of the expenditure of a 
very great amount of the public moneys, is not chosen by the 
people, nor by the City Government. Its vacancies, as they 
occur, are filled by the remaining members, in the manner of 
close corporations, — the people, over whose affairs they 
exercise such an important control, having no voice in the 
matter whatsoever. The principle is utterly wrong, and of 
course, sooner or later, will be productive of practical evil. 
The body itself, as the schools have increased in number, has 



268 KEVIEW. 

already become inconveniently large for mutual consultation, 
and advantageous cooperation. There is no good reason why 
so important a Board, (which is not even recognized in our 
charter,) should not derive its power from, and be responsible 
to, the people, in the same manner as the Committee having 
charge of the Grammar Schools, — and I recommend the 
adoption of such measures as shall remedy the defect. 

This was followed by a report of the Committee on 
Public Instruction, in October, substantially reiterating 
the same views ; but as the efforts to establish the office 
of Superintendent had not been successful, further 
action, in relation to the Primary Board, was suspended, 
until a report on the whole subject of the reorganiza- 
tion of the school system could be prepared. 

The office having been established, and a Superin- 
tendent of Public Schools elected, in 1851, the Primary 
Board was again brought to the attention of the City 
Council, in January, 1852, by the Mayor, (Hon. Benja- 
min Seaver,) who addressed a special communication to 
the President of the Common Council, on " The Present 
Organization of the Grammar and Primary School Com- 
mittees." This communication was referred to the 
Committee on Public Instruction, who, in April, submit- 
ted a very elaborate report, by their Chairman, (Samp- 
son Reed, Esq.,*) in which, after glancing at the early 
history of the schools, and the establishment of the Pri- 
mary Board, the following grounds were urged against 
the continuance of the latter : First, because of its 
questionable legality ; second, because, as a deliberat- 
ive or executive body, it had become too numerous for 
the purposes entrusted to its care ; tJiird, because of 

* City Dociunent No. 22, 1852. 



REVIEW. 269 

the mode in which its members were elected and vacan- 
cies filled ; and fourth, because its continuance per- 
petuated a want of unity in our school system. 

The arguments adduced in support of these propo- 
sitions were ably presented in the report, and have been 
so frequently referred to in various reports of the 
Grammar School Committee, as to render it unneces- 
sary to present them at this time. 

If, therefore, to the several grounds of opposition, as 
enumerated in the report of the Committee on Public 
Instruction, we add the declaration of the Mayor, that 
" the constitution of this Committee is anomalous to the 
genius of our institutions," and the charge, that " they 
have the expenditure of a very large amount of the 
public moneys, without being chosen by the people or 
by the City Government," — we shall have a full expo- 
sition of the reasons, which, in various forms and at 
sundry times, were urged as good and sufficient for the 
dissolution of the Primary Board. 

A general response to all these statements and argu- 
ments might be, that, admitting all these propositions 
and charges to be true, — in what manner had the pub- 
lic interest, our schools, or the cause of education, 
suffered from the " anomalous " character or the exer- 
cise of these powers, by the Primary School Commit- 
tee ? The several documents, in relation to the subject, 
answer the question. 

Mayor Bigelow says of the Committee, " The mem- 
bers themselves are deservedly held in grateful respect 
by the people for their services ; " and the Committee 
on Public Instruction, of the same year, add — 



270 REVIEW. 

Your Committee cannot, however, in justice to those of our 
fellow-citizens, by whose public spirit and devotion, the one 
hundred and seventy-eight Primary Schools of our city are 
regulated and controlled, dismiss the subject without adding 
their testimony to that of His Honor the Mayor, in favor of 
the zeal and efficiency evinced by the Primary School Board. 
Though elected by a wrong system, these gentlemen have per- 
formed the arduous duties of their station in an able manner, 
and to their enlightened action is the present satisfactory 
condition of the schools mainly attributable. 

Those schools indicate how successfully the action of tal- 
ented and devoted agents can overcome radical defects in the 
system by which those agents were placed in power. 

These opinions are confirmed by the report of the 
same Committee, in 1852,* as follows : 

Little was it probably thought, at the commencement of 
these schools, that this humble beginning would grow into the 
great system which now exists, underlying our whole school 
system as its ground work, and affording the means of educa- 
tion, not only to the poor and neglected, but to all classes of 
society, however intelligent or wealthy. There are now no 
less than forty-five Primary School-houses, many of them ele- 
gant structures. There are one hundred and ninety Primary 
Schools. The number of pupils instructed in them is eleven 
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight ! and the expenditure 
for their support the last year, was $97,648 47 for current 
expenses; and |51,010 69 for school-houses, making a total 
of $130,659 16. The statement of these facts is in itself a 
well merited compliment to those gentlemen who first inter- 
ested themselves in this cause, and to those who have from 
time to time devoted themselves with so much zeal and useful- 
^ness in its service. And it may be proper to premise, before 

* City Document No. 22. 



REVIEW. 271 

proceeding further, that all our remarks are made with entire 
respect to those individuals who have comprised the Primary 
Sohool Board in times past, or who at present comprise it, 
and apply, not to the persons, but to the system. The cata- 
logue of the names of the gentlemen who have served on 
that Committee, contains those which would do honor to any 
city, — those who, from their quiet, unobtrusive labors in this 
department of duty, for a long series of years, should be held 
by their fellow-citizens in lasting remembrance. 

At an adjourned meeting of the School Committee, 
January 16, 1855, Rev. Dr. Lothrop, in behalf of the 
Committee, to which was referred the communication 
of the Secretary of the late Primary School Committee, 
reported that they had discharged the duty assigned 
them, and added : 

When first instituted in 1818, the Primary School Commit- 
tee consisted of thirty-six members ; twenty-five Primary 
Schools were established, and about one thousand children 
were in attendance. At the time that it became extinct, the 
Committee consisted of one hundred and ninety-six members, 
and bequeathed to the care of our Committee one hundred 
and ninety-seven schools, at which over twelve thousand 
pupils attended. In view of these facts, however satisfactory 
may be the various reasons that prevailed with the public 
mind to produce the change which has been adopted, all will 
agree that the plan which has now been abandoned had many 
excellences ; that under it this department of public instruc- 
tion has been constantly enlarged to meet the wants of the 
increasing population of the city; and that the gentlemen 
who, from time to time, have served on this Committee, many 
of them for many years, have generally been men of integ- 
rity, honor, and public spirit, who have aimed at a strict and 
faithful discharge of the duties of their trust, and who are 



272 REVIEW. 

entitled to the gratitude of the community for the services 
they have rendered. 

The following resolution accompanied the report : 

Resolved, That in receiving the records and papers of the 
late Primary School Committee, this Board, in behalf of the 
citizens of Boston, by whom they have been entrusted -with 
the guardianship of the great interests of public instruction, 
desire to place upon their records an expression of the just 
appreciation which they entertain of the value and fidelity of 
the services of those gentlemen who, from time to time, have 
been members of said Primary School Committee, and zeal- 
ously discharged its duties. 

The report was accepted, and the resolution was 
adopted. 

These universal expressions of respect and confi- 
dence, in regard to the members, and the unreserved 
testimony in favor of the manner in which the affairs 
of the Primary Schools had been conducted, prove 
conclusively that no injury, but great benefits, had re- 
sulted from this " anomalous " organization. 

With this disposition of the general question, we 
will now proceed to examine the grounds on which 
the " system " was condemned. 

First. It was "anomalous to the genius of our 
institutions." 

The " genius of our institutions " may be defined as 
" the voice of the people, legally expressed ; " and the 
establishment of the Primary School Committee, by 
the people assembled in town meeting at Faneuil Hall, 
was an act preeminently in conformity with this aphor- 
ism. Established by competent authority, its public 



REVIEW. 273 

position was always recognized by the City Govern- 
ment, and remained michallenged from 1822 till 1850. 

Second. They had " the expenditure of a very great 
amount of the public moneys," without being " chosen 
by the people, or by the City Government." 

The Primary Board have never possessed nor exer- 
cised the power to expend the " public moneys." The 
salaries of their teachers were fixed by vote of the City 
Council, and paid by the City Treasurer; the school- 
houses were planned and built, — school-rooms were 
hired, — the furniture and fuel were supplied, by the 
sole order of the City Council, — the incidental repairs 
and alterations were made by the Committee and 
Superintendent of Public Buildings, entirely independ- 
ent of the Primary Board or its Committees. With the 
exception of about one hundred dollars, for the deliv- 
ery of notices and the expenses incurred by the Secre- 
tary, and two dollars to each school for rewards, neither 
the Board nor its members ever had the control or 
expenditure of a dollar of the " public moneys." 

Third. They assumed powers "not vested in them 
by law," and illegally increased their number of mem- 
bers. A complete refutation of this is contained in the 
Memorial of the Board and the proceedings of the City 
Government in 1823.* 

Fourth. " As a deliberative or executive body, it had 
become too numerous for the purposes entrusted to its 
care." 

As this appears to be merely an opinion, without any 
reasons or proof being given to sustain it, it is only 

* See page 72-76. 
35 



274 REVIEW. 

necessary to state, that we are not aware of any diffi- 
culty being felt or experienced from the number of 
members. On the contrary, the large number of our 
citizens who, by this means, were brought into imme- 
diate contact with the schools, became thoroughly 
acquainted with our system of public education; and 
by participating in the labor, care and responsibility 
of its management, felt a higher degree of interest 
in its success, disseminated a knowledge of its details 
and operation, and by this means strengthened and 
elevated our Public Schools in the estimation of the 
people at large ; and to this cause may be attributed 
much of that preeminence which has characterized 
the Boston Public Schools. The reasons for the large 
number of members, as presented in the Memorial of 
the Board to the City Council, in 1823, were as valid 
in 1850 as at that time. 

Fifth. " The objectionable mode in which the mem- 
bers were elected and vacancies filled, in the manner 
of close corporations." 

The City Solicitor, in reply to questions by the Gram- 
mar Board, in 1849, declared that the Grammar School 
Committee, " being originally authorized by the town, 
might properly appoint the Primary School Committee 
to take particular charge of the Primary Schools, as a 
department or sub-division of the general system of 
Public Schools." 

This was the practice during the entire existence of 
the Primary Board ; and as a sub-committee, they were 
subject to appointment every year, under the following 
rules of the Grammar Board : 



REVIEW. 275 

In January or February, annually, this Board shall nomi- 
nate and appoint a suitable number of gentlemen, whose duty 
shall be to provide instruction for children between four and 
eight years of age, by means of the Primary Schools, and shall 
authorize the Committee of these schools to organize their 
body and regulate their proceedings as they may deem most 
convenient, and to remove such members thereof, as, in their 
opinion, do not attend to their duties, and to fill all vacancies 
which may occur in the same, and they shall report to this 
Board, at its quarterly meeting in May, as follows : 

1st. The plan of their organization, including the names of 
the officers and Committees, the rules and regulations which 
govern their Board, and the classification adopted in the 
schools. 

2d. The number of schools under their charge, their loca- 
tion, together with the number and names of the teachers. 

3d. The number of scholars, male and female, and the 
studies required. 

4th. A schedule of the Primary School-rooms owned by 
the city, the number of the same hired by the city, the num- 
ber vacant of the same, owned by the city, the number new 
of the same, which will be required during the year, and the 
districts in which they must be provided. 

And this Board will respectfully receive such other com- 
munications as from time to time they may please to make on 
the subject of those schools. 

With these facts before us, it is difficult to discover 
the analogy between the Primary Board and " a close 
corporation." 

To judge whether the mode of filling the vacancies^ 
ad interim, by the Primary Board, was justly liable to 
censure, it is proper to state the process. Whenever a 
new school was established, or a vacancy occurred, by 



276 REVIEW. 

resignation or otherwise, the Committee of the district 
ia which the school was located, proceeded to select a 
gentleman whose known interest in the schools and 
social position qualified him for the office. This was 
done by ballot, and in all cases preference was given to 
those whose business or residence was in the vicinity of 
the school. This was of much importance, as all mat- 
ters pertaining to the teacher or school were under the 
special care of the Local Committee. It was also a 
great convenience to the citizens, inasmuch as all the 
children were admitted and transferred by certificate 
of the Committee, which they were obliged to obtain 
from him. After the ballot was taken, and the party 
selected had signified his willingness to serve, his name, 
with the number of the school and district with which 
he was to be connected, was issued in a printed notice 
to all the members, and his admission was subjected to 
ballot at the quarterly meeting of the whole Board. 
A person, therefore, was subject to tivo elections, by dif- 
ferent bodies, before he could be even nominated for 
appointment by the Grammar Board, as a member of 
the Primary School Committee. A " mode " of pro- 
ceeding far more critical than is usually attempted in 
the selection of candidates for the Grammar School 
Committee. The power to remove any member for 
neglect of duty^ vested in the Executive Committee, 
had a tendency to maintain the standard of supervision 
to a healthy point. This and an entire absence of all 
political bias in the selection of members, were ele- 
ments of great value in a system of universal educa- 
tion, but which could only be attained by some other 
" mode " than that of popular nominations at the ward 
rooms. 



REVIEW. 277 

The Sixth and last objection we have to notice, is, 
" that its continuance perpetuated a want of unity in 
our school system." 

The union of the Primary and Grammar Schools, 
under one Committee, Avas but one step towards the 
object in view. Other elementary changes were con- 
templated, some of which had been already introduced. 
Among these projected improvements, was the congre- 
gating of large numbers of children and teachers under 
one roof, subject to the control of a single head, render- 
ing the duties of the master those of a subordinate super- 
intendent, rather than an instructor. The reduction in 
the number of the Committee, and consequent increase 
of care and responsibility on each of the members, 
rendered the appointment of a Superintendent neces- 
sary and imperative, to aid in the discharge of the 
onerous duties incumbent on the Committee. The 
natural tendency of all this was to concentrate the 
vast interests of our schools in the hands of a few; 
and through the agency of the Superintendent, to 
bring the Boston schools more directly under the 
influence of the Massachusetts Board of Education, — 
a body created by the State Legislature as a great 
central power, to give impulse and direction to the 
method of conducting the education of the young in 
all the Public Schools throughout the Commonwealth. 

To render the Boston schools subordinate to this 
system of centralization, was the real development 
of the idea of "unity in our school system." 

That the Primary Board, in principle and practice, 
was in direct antagonism to this system, is true. Its 



278 EEVIEW. 

origin and organization were essentially popular and 
democratic. Its object was to extend the blessings 
of education to the children of poverty and ignorance, 
and by this means to qualify the children of the poor 
emigrant for intelligent citizenship. Opposed by the 
constituted authorities, the object was approved and 
the schools established, by the people. And it was 
the peculiar province of this organization to diffuse 
the control and administration of our schools among 
as large a number of the citizens as practicable. 

Whether the change, by which a new, untried and 
experimental system has been substituted, will prove 
to have been judicious, or be so beneficial as was 
confidently predicted by its friends, time only can 
determine. Through that inexorable ordeal the Pri- 
mary School system has passed, with honor and suc- 
cess. That equal, if not greater success, may attend 
our schools, under their present organization, or in 
whatever manner they may be organized and gov- 
erned, and that they may continue to be a source 
of pride and hope, is our own, and will always be 
the desire of every good citizen and friend of pop- 
ular education. 

In closing our labors by this review of the opinions 
and action of those gentlemen, through whose in- 
fluence and exertions the Primary School Committee 
was abolished, we desire to disclaim attributing to 
them or their coadjutors, any other than high and 
honorable motives in their opposition ; and we believe 
that the correction of the historical errors in their rep- 
resentations, upon which it is evident much of their 



REVIEW. 279 

opposition has been based, will be received by them 
in a kindly spirit; and as an act of justice to a 
body, that, however "anomalous" and peculiar it 
might be in its constitution, was, nevertheless, a Bos- 
ton institution of acknowledged excellence, efficiency, 
and success, and one whose entire record is unsullied 
by a single act that we would wish to blot. 



APPENDIX. 



FINAL AND SEVENTH 

^nitiial Report of tlje Mpl of Inkstrj, |t0. 1; 

EOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT. 

BOSTON, NOVEMBER, 1819. 



The Managers of the School of Industry again have the pleasure of pre- 
senting their acknowledgments to the friends and benefactors of this Institu- 
tion for the encouragement and support they have thus far liberally bestowed. 
And with gratitude for favors conferred, they would offer the general senti- 
ment of the Ladies to dissolve the Association, for the present ; convinced as 
they are, necessity does not immediately urge the duty, and fearful of taxing 
private individuals unnecessarily — as the number of children is very small, 
compared with the many who have attended the past years ; the smaller class 
having been sent to the Primary Schools, lately provided by the town, which 
prevents in a degree, our longer continuance to our own satisfaction. Some 
few of the oldest have been placed in good families, where they will be made 
useful members of society, and blessings in the world. 

Seven years have now elapsed since the commencement of this institution, 
and the purest motives of our hearts have been exercised in its progress ; and 
the success that has generally attended our efforts, has been a sufficient 
stimulus to the performance of one of the most interesting duties of life, 
and it is with sensations of regret we this day dissolve a connection that has 
ever contributed to our happiness, formed as it was, at a period when most 
needed, and when every day presented a scene of ignorance and vice, mel- 
ancholy to behold ; children almost constantly in the streets, exciting the pity 
of strangers, and sympathy of friends, exposed as they were to the present 
evil world, without employment, and perhaps no virtuous example, to guide 
their steps aright, acquiring habits of indolence and wickedness, not easily 
effaced. Here they have been early taught the first lessons of knowledge. 



APPENDIX. 281 

the most simple branclies of learning, and their diligence and industry have 
been frequently commendable ; and we trust some good impressions have 
been made, some seeds of virtue will be permitted to thrive ; as their open- 
ing minds expand, they will naturally appreciate the advantages given them, 
and be ready to bless the friends who have thus kindly prepared them for 
virtue and goodness. 

Much praise is due to the young ladies for the interest they have displayed 
in the welfare of the children ; their attention to the reading, and constant 
attendance, entitle them to om* warmest thanks. 

Since the formation of this society, several others have been established on 
a similar plan with our own, and this, we are happy to think, was the first of 
the kind instituted in Boston. 

After examining the Treasurer's accounts, it is hoped the benefactors will 
be perfectly satisfied with the statement given, and appropriation of the 
funds. The medals presented as rewards of merit to the children, it is pro- 
posed, should be distributed for the same purpose, to the Primary Schools in 
the three neighboring wards. 

May the time spent here cheer the recollection as hours well spent, and 
each member be rewarded with an approving conscience, and the smiles of 
Heaven. 



At a meeting of the Managers at the school room, on the 2d day of Nov., 

1819 — the above report, together Avith the abstract of the Treasurer's 

accounts, was directed to be read, and copies distributed. 

Voted^ That this meeting be adjourned to the 29th November, and in the 

mean time, Joseph Austin, Esq., and Dr. Robert Fennelly be requested to 

examine and settle the Treasurer's accounts. 

The following abstract was presented by the Treasurer. Expenses of 

School of Industry from the first year to the present, viz. : 

Paid for stock, . . = $284 57 

Wood, 191 07 

Clothes, 39 95 

Shoes,. 25156 

Hose, '' 3^ 

Mrs. Wheelwright, ^^^ ^*^ 

Miss Trench, as assistant, ^^ 00 

Miss Hill, do ^'^ ^*^ 

n 1 T. ' f . . 640 00 
Col. Eager s rent, 

Miscellaneous, viz., books, furniture, &c., . • • 49 14 

T? • ... 7 54 

Kepairs, 

36 



282 APPENDIX. 



Writing School, 

Advertising, 

Counterfeit bills, . ..... 

By amount of subscription, and donations from Nov. 

1812, to Nov., 1819, 

Amount of sales and work, 



Balance, $72 05 



7 


65 


3 


00 


5 


00 


$1,936 


21 


1,420 


92 


587 


34 


$2,008 


26 



Three hundred children have been admitted into the school. 
Boston, Nov. 2Qth, 1819. — We have at the request of the Managers of the 
School of Industrj'^, examined the accounts of the Treasurer, and find them 
correct, leaving a balance of 72 dollars 5 cents. 
Signed, 

JOSEPH AUSTIN, 

ROBERT FENELLY. 

At a meeting of the Managers of the School of Industry, Nov. 29th, 1819, 
it was agreed that the balance in the hands of the Treasurer be appropriated 
towards the schooling of poor children, (not otherwise provided for.) That 
Mrs. Wheelwright be authorized to take such children as any of the subscrib- 
ers may approve, and present her bill quarterly for payment, until the whole 
remaining money shall be expended, after deducting ten dollars now pre- 
sented her, and the necessary expenses for pnnting, &c. 

The managers of the School of Industry having been in the practice of 
distinguishing the most attentive scholars, by the wearing of a medal on each 
monthly day of examination, and finding that the hopes of such a distinction 
excited a spirit of industry among the children, and as that institution is now 
dissolved, the Committee of the Primary Schools, in Ward Nos. 1 and 2, are 
requested to accept the said medals to be used for the same purpose in the 
schools which they superintend. 

SARAH AUSTIN, Secretary. 



[foeji of certificate.] 
TO MRS. WHEELWRIGHT. 

Admit into your School for 

one quarter from the day of 1820, 

and write on the back of this that she has attended one 
quarter, and I will give an order on Mrs. Webster the Treas- 
urer, for the payment of your bill, (at ten cents a week,) for 
one dollar and thirty cents. 



COPY OF THE FIRST 

UTILES AND EEGTJLATIONS 

ADOPTED BY THE 

PRIMAEY SCHOOL COMMITTEE. 
BOSTON, JULY, 1820. 



At a meeting of the Primary School Committee, held July 27th, 1820, the 
following Rules and Regulations were adopted for the government of this 
Board, and the several schools under their jurisdiction. 

Attest, P. MACKINTOSH, Jr., Sec'y. 



RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The officers of this Board shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treas- 
urer, and a Standing Committee. 

SECTION L 

OP THE WHOLE BOARD. 

A representation of seven wards shall be a quorum at any meeting for the 
transaction of business. 

The quarterly meetings of this Board shall be holden on the third Tues- 
days in August, November, February and May. 

All nominations to fill vacancies at this Board, shall be made at a meeting 
previous to that when the election shall be made. 

The elections of the permanent officers and the Standing Committee, and 
also the filling of all vacancies of members, shall be made by written ballots. 

In order to secure the due attendance of members, the Secretary, in 
issuing notifications for the meetings, shall note in writing on the notification 
of any member absent from the last meeting the fact of such absence, and 
that his attendance is desired, unless he intend to resign his seat. 

SECTION IL 
The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings, and be respected 
and obeyed accordingly. 

SECTION IIL 

DUTIES OP THE SECRETARY. 

The Secretary shall keep a faithful record of all the doings of the Board 
he shall notify the members of all meetings ; he shall note their absence 



284 APPENDIX. 

from the last meeting, agreeably to the last clause of the first section ; and 
perform all other duties wliich by custom appertain to his office. 

SECTION IV. 

DUTIES OF THE TREASURER. 

The treasurer shall keep a fail- and accurate account of the moneyed con- 
cerns of the Board. He is authorized to receive from the Town Treasurer 
all moneys granted for the support of the Primary Schools ; and pay the 
instructors of the schools, quarterly, their bills being first approved by the 
Committee of the ward or district to which they belong. His accounts shall 
be audited, or Inspected, whenever the Board may appoint a Committee for 
that purpose. At the close of the year he shall make a transcript or an 
abstract of his accounts as audited, to be laid before the Board. 

SECTION V. 

OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE. 

The Standing Committee shall consist of seven members, to be appointed 
by this Board, whose duty it shall be to meet on the second Tuesday of each 
month, to consider of every subject relating to the Primary Schools, and the 
same to visit semi-annually, and report at every quarterly meeting, recom- 
mending any improvements necessary to obtain the general objects of this 
Board. 

SECTION VI. 

WARD OR DISTRICT COMMITTEES. 

The "Ward Committees are constituted of the three gentlemen appointed 
by the School Committee from each ward. When two or more wai-ds are 
joined, they shall be termed a district, and the Committee a District 
Committee. 

Each school shall be opened and directed by the Committee of the ward 
or district in which It Is placed, consulting, If It stand near another ward, the 
Committee of that ward. To the same shall belong the duty of locating the 
schools, of engaging competent mistresses, and the same to remove, on proof 
of any sufficient cause, and of controlling aU matters relating to the estab- 
lishment. They shall visit, examine, and Inquire into the state of the school 
or schools under their charge, at least once a month, and oftener, if conve- 
nient. They shall meet at least ten days previous to the quarterly meetings, 
to prepare, from the returns of the several schoolmistresses, A report to be 
made forthwith to the Standing Committee, together with said returns, with 
such observations as they may deem proper to make. 

Previous to the removal of a child to the Grammar School, such child shall 
pass an examination to the satisfaction of one or more of the respective Ward 
or District Committees, who, to each child appearing sufficiently qualified for 
entrance at the upper school, shall grant a certificate in the following form : 



APPENDIX. 285 



CERTIFICATE OF EECOJIMENDATION. 

The bearer A. B., child of C. D., having been instructed at the Primary 
School, kept by E. F., and being years of age, is thought qualified 

for admission at the English Grammar School under your direction, to which 
he is recommended by 

G. H., Committee of Ward No. 
To I. K., Master of the English Grammar School. 

It shall be the duty of the several Ward or District Committees to keep a 
record of their proceedings relative to the schools under their management. 

When notified by the Standing Committee of an intended semi-annual 
visitation, each Ward or District Committee shall detach one or more, to 
introduce the Standing Committee to their schools, and assist at the 
examination. 

SECTION VII. 

OF THE INSTRUCTORS AND THE SCHOOLS. 

The schoolmistresses are to be appointed, and the schools located, by the 
Committees of the resj^ective wards or districts, who have the management of 
them under the direction of the whole Board. 

Each schoolmistress shall stand precisely on equal terms in point of com- 
pensation ; and the compensation allowed them is in full for tuition, school 
rent, fuel, and all other expenses. 

All the schools shall be as nearly equal m point of numbers as may be — 
it being desirable that none have more than fifty, nor less than forty, as con- 
stant attendants. 

No pupil shall be received into the Primary Schools without a ticket of 
admittance from one of the Ward or District Committees. 

The instructors employed by this Board are expressly prohibited from 
receiving pay for any private pupils instructed by them at their schools. 

The pupils in each of the schools shall be arranged into four classes, viz. : 

Those in the Testament shall be of the 1st class. 

Those in easy reading, of the 2d class. 

Those who spell two or more syllables, of the 3d class. 

Those learning their monosyllables, of the 4th class. 

The books shall be the same in every school for each pupil, {liereafler 
admitted, \\z. :) 

The 1st class shall use the Testament. 

The 2d class shall use Bingham's Child's Companion. 

The 3d and 4th classes shall use Kelly's Child's Instructcr. 

Pvewards of merit bestowed on the scholars shall consist of reward tickets, 
small moral books, or class medals, as the Committee of the ward or district 
may determine. If medals are allowed, they are to be worn by the best 
scholars, for the time being, under the direction of the schoolmistress. To 



286 APPENDIX. 

defray the expense of these rewards, one dollar for each school shall annually 
be appropriated. 

It shall be the duty of the mistress, besides the usual business of teaching, 
to keep an account of the absence or negligence of any children, and make 
report to the Ward Committee, whose duty thereupon shall be to visit the 
parents, and endeavor to secure regular attention. She shall also be required 
to pay particular regard to the neatness and cleanliness of the children. 

On the monthly visitations of the Ward or District Committees, and the 
semi-annual visitation of the Standing Committee, it shall be the duty of the 
instructors, respectively, to exhibit the progress and improvements made by 
the children under their care, in conformity to the desires of the visiting 
Committee. 

The schoolmistresses shall be excused from keeping school on the following 
days, viz. : 

Every Thursday and Saturday afternoons throughout the year ; the after- 
noons preceding Fasts and Thanksgivings ; the first Monday in June ; Elec- 
tion Week ; the 4th day of July ; Commencement Week, and Christmas 
Day ; but no other day, except by a special vote of the Ward or District 
Committee. 

No scholar shall be removed to the Grammar Schools by the schoolmis- 
tresses, without first being examined and furnished with a certificate of recom- 
mendation, if he or she deserve it, by one of the Ward or District Committee. 

Returns from each of the schools shall be made quarterly, on the last days 
of July, October, January, and April, by the instructors, to the District or 
Ward Committees — stating the ages, the number of male and female pupils • 
the progress of each, and whatever else may be designated by the blanks 
furnished by the Board. 

In order early to impress on the minds of our youth, the importance of 
religious duties, and their entire dependence on their Maker, the instructors 
are desired to open their schools in the morning with a short prayer, and 
close with the same service in the afternoon. 

Whenever, by sickness or otherwise, an instructor is compelled to vacate 
her station for a season, it shall be her duty to inform the Ward or District 
Committee, who will either appoint a mistress pro tern.., or approve one 
selected by the mistress. 



APPENDIX. 



287 



PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 

FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1821. 



Ward No. 1— Three Schools. 
Kev. Henry Ware, 
George Darracott, 
Isaac Harris. 

No. 2— Four Schools. 
Samuel Hicliborn, Jr., 
Lewis Leland, 
Thomas Fracker. 

No. 3. — Four Schools. 
Thomas Wells, 
Dr. Horace Bean, 
Nathan Webb. 

No. 4 — Tioo Schools. 
James Davis, 
Samuel Howe, 
Keuben Eichards, Jr. 

No. 5 — Two Schools. 
Moses Grant, 
Dr. George C. Shattuck, 
Samuel T. Armstrong. 

Nos. 6 and 7 — Five Schools. 
Rev.. Paul Dean, 
Peter Mackintosh, Jr., 
Andrew Green. 



No. 7. 
William Thurston, 
Samuel Coverly, 
Rev. Sereno E. Dwight. 

Nos. 8 and 9— Five Schools. 
Dr. Samuel Clarke, 
Francis Welch, 
Isaac Mansfield. 

No. 9. 
James Savage, 
William Brown, 
Phny Cutler. 

Nos. 10 and 11— Five Schools. 
Thomas L. Winthrop, 
Samuel Norwood, 
Lewis Tappan. 

No. 11. 
Elisha Tick nor, 
Thomas Jackson, 
Samuel Dorr. 

No. 12— Five Schools. 
William Dall, 
Thomas B. Wait, 
William Jackson. 



Thomas L. Winthrop, Esq., Chairman. 
Peter Mackintosh, Jr., Secretary. 
William Brown, Esq., Treasurer. 



STANDING 

Thomas B. Wait, 



COMMITTEE. 

Moses Grant, 
James Savage, Isaac Harris, 

Peter Mackintosh, Jr., Thomas Wells, 

Lewis Tappan. 



288 APPENDIX. 

At a meeting of the Primary School Committee, held February 20th, 
1821, the following System of Instruction was adopted, to be pursued in all 
the Primary Schools. 

Attest, P. MACKINTOSH, Jr., Secretary. 



COURSE AND MODE OF IXSTRUCTION TO BE PURSUED IN THE 
PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 

The fourth or youngest class shall stand up with due ceremony, at as great 
a distance from the instructor as possible, and read, with a distinct and audi- 
ble tone of voice, in words of one syllable. No one of this class shall be 
advanced to the third or higher class, who cannot read deliberately and cor- 
rectly in words of one and two syllables. 

No one of the third class shall be advanced to the second class who cannot 
spell with ease and propriety words of three, four and five syllables, and read 
all the reading lessons in Kelly's spelling book. 

No one of the second class shall be advanced to the first class who has not 
learned perfectly by heart, and recited, as far as practicable, all the reading 
lessons in Kelly's spelling book ; the Commandments and Lord's Prayer ; all 
the stops and marks, and their uses in reading ; and in Bingham's spelling 
book, the use of the common abbreviations, such as a. m., d. d., l.l. d., &c. ; 
the use of numbers, and letters used for numbers, in reading ; the catalogue 
of words of similar sound, but different in spelling and signification ; the 
catalogue of vulgarisms, such as chimney, not chimbly, vinegar, not win- 
egar, &c. 

No one of the first class shall be recommended by the Examining Com- 
mittee to be received into the English Grammar schools, unless he or she can 
spell correctly, read fluently in the New Testament, and has learned the 
several branches taught in the second class ; and also the use and nature of 
the pauses ; and is of good behavior. And each of the scholars, before being 
recommended, shall be able to read deliberately and audibly, so as to be 
heard in any part of the Grammar Schools. 

Thus a foundation will be laid in the Primary Schools for farther and 
greater improvements in the EngHsh Grammar Schools than has heretofore 
been known ; and of course the scholars from the Primary Schools will be 
qualified to enter the Grammar Schools on an advanced standing. 

The Committee particularly recommend, that the instructors shall employ 
the girls occasionally, (especially those of the first class,) in sewing and knit- 
ting, so far as the same shall not interfere with their progress in learning. 

N. B. — The books to be used in the schools are the same as prescribed in 
the Rules and Regulations, viz.': 

The 4th and 3d classes, Kelly's Child's Instructer. 



APPENDIX. 289 

The 2d class, Child's Instructer continued, and Bingham's Child's Companion 

The 1st class, Instructer and Companion continued, and the New Testament. 

No other kind of books are allowed to be introduced, or used as substitutes 
for any of the above-cited, unless by order of the Board 

At a quarterly meeting of the Prknary School Committee, August 15> 
1820, the following Rule was adopted; 

No child shall be admitted into a school, unless provided with the neces- 
sary books. 

Also, at an adjourned quarterly meeting, November 20, 1820, the following 
Rules were adopted : 

Teachers will note the absence or tardiness of their scholars daily, and 
insert the result in their quarterly returns, opposite the names of the scholars, 
and under the head of " Remarks." 

Teachers are not allowed to permit visitors to tarry in their schools, nor to 
be themselves employed in needle or other work during school hours. 

The instructors are requested, in making their quarterly returns, to insert 
the Christian names of the scholars, and to arrange them by classes, placing 
the girls first in order. 

Attest, 

PETER MACKINTOSH, Jr., Secretary. 

37 



CATALOGUE 

OB" THE 

GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS 

OP THB 

PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THEIR SERVICE, 



INSTITUTION, JUNE 22, 1818, TO ITS DISCONTINUANCE 
IN JANUARY, 1855. 



CATALOGUE 



CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD. 

Thomas L. Winthrop, 1818—1821 ; resigned June, 1822. 

James Savage, June, 1822, 1823 ; resigned June, 1824. 

Moses Grant, June, 1824 — 1833. 

Lewis G. Pray, January, 1834, 1835. 

George W. Otis, Jr., 183G— 1839. 

Richard W. Bayley, 1840—1843. 

Josiah F. Bumstead, 1844—1846. 

Eben Jones, 1847—1849. 

Francis Brown, 1850, 1851. 

Charles Edward Cook, 1852, 1853. 

Alvan Sunonds, 1854. 

SECRETARIES OF THE BOARD. 

James Savage, 1818, 1819 ; resigned June, 1820. 

Peter Mackintosh, Jr., June, 1820 — 22. 

Charles Ewer, June, 1823. 

William T. Andrews, June, 1824—1828. 

Frederic T. Gray, January, 1829-1832. 

Edward G. Davis, 1833, 1834. 

Gustavus Horton, 1835 ; resigned May, 1836. 

Joseph Curtis, May, 1836—1841. 

Alvan Simonds, 1842—1851 ; resigned March, 1852. 

Charles Demond, March, 1852—1855. 

CHAIRMEN OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE. 

Elisha Ticknor, 1819, 1820; died July, 1821. 

James Savage, July, 1821—1823; resigned June, 1824. 

Thomas Wells, August, 1824—1829. 

Francis Parkman, 1830—1833. 

Charles Walker, 1834 



294 APPENDIX. 

George W. Otis, 1835. 

Samuel Tenney, 1836, 1837. 

Eicbard W. Bayley, 1838, 1839. 

Josiah F. Bumstead, 1840—1843. 

Frederic A. Sumner, 1844. 

Joseph W. Ingraliam, 1845 — 1847 ; died August, 1848 

Joseph M. Wightman, September, 1848 — 1855. 

SECRETARIES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE. 

Peter Mackintosh, Jr., 1819. 
Moses Grant, 1820—1829. 
Lewis G. Pray, 1830—1832. 
Charles Walker, 1833. 
George W. Otis, Jr., 1834. 
Frederic A. Sumner, 1835—1843. 
Alvan Simonds, 1844 — 1851. 
Charles Demond, 1852—1855. 

TREASURER OF THE BOARD. 
William Brown, 1819—1823 ; office aboHshed, 1824. 



PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE. 



The figures indicate the date of appointment, and the number of years of service. 



Austin, Benjamin 1818, 1819 

Armstrong, Samuel T 1820 

Adams, Zabdiel B 1821—1825 

Adan, John E 1824 

Andrews, William T.. . . 1824—1828 

Austin, Richard 18S3 — 1838 

Appleton, John 1833 

Andrews, Henry E 1836—1855 

Adams, Thomas 1838, 1839 

Allen, James M 1842, 1843 

Abrahams, Benjamin 1843 

Atkins, John 1844—1847 

Allen, Charles J. F 1844—1855 

Abbott, Samuel L 1846—1853 

Adams, Isaac 1846—1849 

Atkins, Ebenezer 1847 — 1855 

Atwood, Charles H 1847—1855 

Alvord, John W 1847—1853 

Allen, Samuel C 1848 

Allen, Joseph H 1850 

Allen, James B 1850 

Allen, Nathaniel G 1851, 1852 

Appleton, William, Jr. . . 1852, 1853 

Allen, Frederic D 1852—1855 

Alley, James B 1853, 1854 

Adams, Colman S 1853, 1854 

Burditt, James W 1818 

Baldwin, Eev. Thomas . . . 1818, 1819 

Bell, Shubael 1818 

Brown, William 1818-1826 

Bellows, John 1818, 1819 

Bean, Horace 1819, 1820 

Bordman, Thomas S 1819 

Baker, John 1821 

Bradlee, Samuel 1821—1823 

Blanchard, Joshua P 1824—1831 

Bemis, Charles 1824 

Bent, Adam 1824—1831 

Baker, John 1824, 1825 



Barry, William, Jr 1825 

Bowdoln, James 1825, 182G 

Betton, NInlan C 1826 — 1828 

Bumstead, Joslah F 1826 — 1855 

Bliss, Alexander 1826 

Blaney, William 1827, 1828 

Barrett, N. A 1827 — 1831 

Bigelow, John P 1827 — 1837 

Bradshaw, Andrew 1827, 1828 

Butts, John E 1828 

Barnes, Seth II 1829—1832 

Blalsdell, Eev. Silas 1830 

Bulfinch, George S 1830 — 1832 

Blagden, Eev. George W 1831 

Brown, Francis 1831 — 1855 

Brown, William C 1832 

Brown, John S 1833 

Bayley, Eichard W 1834—1848 

Barnard, Eev. C. F 1834—1836 

Bourne, I. W 1835—1841 

Bullard, Francis 1835—1847 

Brigham, AVilliam 183G 

Brown, William 1836, 1837, 1850 

Brown, Benjamin 1836 

Battles, Jason D 1837—1839 

Bayley, Thomas J 1837, 1838 

Bowditch, Henry 1 1837—1850 

Barry, Charles C 1837—1850 

BedliuQTton, Timothy 1838—1841 

Bemis,'George 1840—1844 

Burroughs, Henry 1842—1849 

Brooks, WiUIam B 1842—1848 

Buck, Ephralm, Jr. . . . 1842—1848 

Bell, Theodore H 1842-1854 

Boardman, Charles 1844 — 1846 

Brooks, Eev. Charles . . . 1844—1851 

Bond, George W 1844, 1845 

Breed, Horace A 1844, 1845 

Beal, Thacher 1844—1855 

Burnham, Choate 1844—1846 



296 



APPENDIX. 



Blake, John H 1845—1848 

Blake, E. W 1846—1855 

Bond, Charles R 1846 

Blanchard, William E. . . 1846—1853 

Bigelow, John 1847—1854 

"Bowker, Albert 1847—1854 

Butters, William A 1847—1850 

Brevoort, Henry 1849—1855 

Banvard, Rev. Joseph 1849 

Brainard, Edward H 1850 

Baker, Judah 1850 

Bean, Aaron H 1850 

Bowdlear, Samuel G 1852—1855 

Bartlett, Ezra 1853, 1854 

Beecher, Rev. Edward. . . 1853, 1854 

Boynton, E., Jr 1853, 1854 

Barrows, Horace G 1854 

Buckingham, Charles E 1854 

Bosworth, Rev. G. W 1854 

Coverly, Samuel 1818—1820 

Chapman, Henry 1818, 1819 

Child, David W 1818 

Chandler, Gardner L. ... 1818, 1819 

Clarke, Samuel 1819, 1820 

Cotton, John 1821 

Chandler, Abiel 1823—1829 

Capen,Rev.L. 1823— 1831; 1842,1843 

Cartwright, C. W 1824 

Curtis, Jos. 1826—1829 ; 1834—1841 

Child, David Lee 1826—1828 

Clark, Joseph 1828—1832 

Coit, Daniel T 1829—1855 

Croswell, Rev. William. . 1829—1831 

Clark, James 1829—1832 

Cobb, Elijah 1830—1842 

Choate, Charles 1831—1834 

Center, John 1832—1835 

Coburn, Caleb 1832—1835 

Cragin, Lorenzo S 1832 — 1855 

Codman, Edward 1833—1835 

Cutler, Samuel L 1834 

Chessman, Samuel 1835 — 1838 

Chapin, A. B 1836 

Clark, Henry G 1837—1855 

Clark, Moses 1837 

Clapp, Henry, Jr 1838 — 1840 

Crebore, Daniel S 1839—1841 

Getting, Benjamin E 1840, 1841 

Coolidge, William D. . . . 1843—1847 
Cushman, Freeman L. . . . 1842, 1843 
Calrow, William H. . . . 1844—1855 

Cumings, Bradley N 1844, 1845 

Crosby*^ Loammi 1844—1855 

Crosby, Frederic 1844-1849 



Clarke, Rev. Dorus 1844—1847 

Child, Asaph B 1844—1851 

Carter, Oliver .Y7. 1844—1855 

Coale, William E 1845—1847 

Crane, Horatio N 1846 

Crowell, Rev. William . . 1846—1848 

Cotton, Nath. D 1847, 1848 

Cruft, Rev. S. B 1847—1855 

Cook, Rev. Theo. D. . . . 1848—1851 

Cole, Morrill 1848—1852 

Clarke, Rev. James F 1849 

Chase, Thomas F 1849 

Cheney, J. H 1849—1852 

Cook, Charles E 1850—1852 

Cummings, J. A 1850 

Cushing, Andrew 1851 — 1855 

Chesbrough, E. S 1851—1853 

Clark, Leister M 1851—1855 

Cutter, A. E 1861 

Clement, J. S 1852—1855 

Curtis, George A 1853, 1854 

Cudworth, Rev. W. H.. . . 1853, 1854 

Clark, Rev. R. W 1853, 1854 

Chase, Henry S 1853, 1854 

CHnch, Rev. J. H 1853, 1854 

Cragin, Lorenzo S., Jr 1854 

Calclicott, Rev. T. F 1854 

Clark, Calvin W 1 854 

Crowell, Seth K 1854 

Dean, Rev. Paul 1818—1821 

Dorr, John 1818 

Dall, William 1818—1820 

Davis, James 1819, 1820 

Darracott, George 1820 

Dwight, Rev. S.^E 1820, 1821 

Dow", Samuel 1820 

Domett, George 1823—1826 

Davis, Samuel 1823—1831 

Dupee, Israel T 1825—1828 

Dorr, William B 1825, 1826 

Dane, John 1826 

Dwight, Rev. Louis 1826—1833 

Davts, Edward G 1827—1835 

Drake, Jeremy 1827—1834 

Dyer, Henry 1830—1836 

Durgin, Clement 1833, 1834 

Dow, James B 1834—1855 

Dunham, J., Jr 1836, 1837 

Dall, Joseph 1837—1839 

Dix, John H 1S39 

Daniel, Josiah N 1839, 1840 

Dana, Francis 1839, 1840 

Daniel, Chester 1840 

Dupee, Horace, Jr 1841—1855 



APPENDIX. 



297 



Dale, William J 1841, 1842 

DIngley, John T 1841—1855 

Ditson, Oliver 1841—1855 

*Dall, William 1842—1855 

Ditson, Thomas 1842, 1843 

Dajs Albert 1843 

Dodge, Charles H 1844—1846 

Davenport, Henry 1844—1846 

Dimon, Oliver 1846—1850 

Davenport, AV. W 1846 

Demond, Thomas D 1847—1853 

Dyke, William 1849—1855 

Dutton, Ormond 1850—1855 

Demond, Charles 1850—1855 

Dennett, William H 1850—1855 

Dalton, Henry L 1852—1855 

Damon, Samuel G 1852 — 1855 

Dearing, T. H 1852 

Duncklee, B. W 1853, 1854 

Dutton, George D 1853, 1854 

Damon, Calvin 1853, 1854 

Deblois, George L 1853, 1854 

Danforth, John C 1853, 1854 

Davis, Thomas 1854 

Denison, J. N 1854 

Elliot, John , 1821—1823 

Ewer, Charles 1821—1823 

Edson, Rev. Theo 1823 

Eustis, William T 1825 

Emerson, Geo. B 1826—1834 

Ellis, Samuel 1827, 1828 

Elliot, George A 1832—1835 

Esterljrook, James 1835 

Emmons, J. L. 1835— 1837 ; 1840, 1841 

Everett, Otis 1835—1837 

Eustis, William 1830 

Eayrs, J. H 1839 

Ellis, Rowland 1840—1848 

Eaton, William 1841—1855 

Eddy, Frederic A 1842, 1843 

Emmons, Charles G 1842—1846 

Ellis, Jonathan 1849 

Eaton, Charles F 1850—1855 

Evans, Jonas 1850 

Eastman, Edmund T.. . . 1852—1855 

Elliot, Charles W 1854 

Ellis, Rev. Rufus 1^54 

Ellis, Calvin 1854 

Fennelly, Robert 1818, 1819 

Fracher, Thomas 1819—1823 

Fowle, William B 1821 

Fowle, Henry, Jr 1821—1829 

Farrington, Thomas 1821 



French, Benjamin 

Fairbanks, Gerry 

Fenno, John, Jr 

Farrie, John, Jr 

Fairbanks, Stephen .... 

Fairchild, Rev. J. H 

Fisher, John D 

Freeman, William 

French, Charles 

Foster, William E 

Flint, John 

Field, Elisha 

Fowle, Samuel 

Ford, John V 

Fuller, Henry W 

Fowle, Joshua B. . . 1842, 

Fowle, Henry D 

Faxon, Isaiah 

Fowle, James 

Frothingham, Geo. W. . . 

Fogg, J. S. H 

Fox, James A 

Farwell, Lyman 

Forbes, Gustavus 



1821— 

1821— 

1822— 

1822 

1824 

1827— 

. 1831 

1832- 



1834— 
1834— 
1836 



1840— 



1843; 
1844— 
1847— 
1847— 
, 1851, 
. 1853, 
. 1853, 



1823 
1829 
1829 
1825 
1826 
1836 
1832 
1835 
1833 
1836 
1842 
1850 
1S36 
1842 
1842 
1850 
1855 
1855 
1855 
1852 
1854 
1854 
1853 
1854 



Gore, Samuel 1818 

Grant, Moses 1818—1833 

Green, Andrew 1820 

Guild, Benjamin 1821-1825 

Greele, Samuel 1821—1823 

Green, Ellis B 1823, 1824 

Gould, Benjamin A 1823—1828 

Gay, Frederic A 1824, 1825 

Gray, John C 1824 

Gray, Rev. F. T.. 1825—1832; 1836 

Gulliver, John 1826—1839 

Greene, Benjamin H.. . . 1827—1855 

Gore, Christopher 1828—1841 

Gould, Frederic 1829—1831 

Gray, Thomas, Jr 1829—1834 

Gay, Martin 1830—1838 

Geyer, Andrew 1833—1843 

Gould, Augustus A 1833—1840 

Gavett, William R 1838—1840 

Greely, Philip, Jr 1840 

Gove, Moses J 1848—1852 

Guild, William H 1849 

Goddard, Thomas A. . . . 1849—1855 

Gill, Caleb 1849—1855 

Goddard, Elias W 1849—1853 

Gregerson, James B 1850 

Greene, Moses C 1851—1855 

Gaffield, Thomas 1851—1855 

Giles, Alfred E 1851—1853 

Glover, E.V 1851,1852 



* Son of the member in 1818. 



298 



APPENDIX. 



Gardner, T. 1853 

Gordon, James M 1854 

Gay, Georsie II 1854 

Goddard, Daniel T 1854 

Hicliborn, Samuel 1818—1820 

House, Samuel 1818—1820 

Harris, Isaac 1820 

Hood, Charles 1821—1824 

Henchman, Daniel 1821—1848 

Haven, J. A 1823 

Hale, Enoch, Jr 1823—1825 

Halleclc, Gerard 1824, 1825 

Hobart, Enoch 1824—1842 

Howe, Samuel 1825—1835 

Head, Francis C 1825 

Hatch, Hemy 1825—1838 

HuntinjT, Bela 1825—1831 

Hall, Whitney 182G— 1828 

Hewes, John 1826 

Holland, Samuel M 1826 

Hunting, Thomas 1827—1837 

Hutchinson, Thomas L 1828 

Hartshorn, Eliphalet P.. 1828—1851 

Hayward, James H 1829 

Hunt, Freeman . . . 1831, 1833, 1834 

Ilorton, Gustavus 1832—1831) 

Hall, S. W. 1833—1838; 1846—1848 

Ilolbrook, Josiah 1833 

Haynes, Guy C 1836—1847 

Hosmer, Zelotes 1836 

Howe, Cranston 1836—1851 

Howe, William 1838—1850 

Howes, Willis 1838—1841 

Haynes, Edward, Jr 1839, 1840 

Holman, Oliver 1840, 1841 

Hooper, Henry N 1842, 1843 

Howard, Edward 1842, 1843 

Hawkes, Thomas B. . . . 1842—1855 

Hobart, E. Aug 1843-1849 

Homer, Henry 1842—1854 

Humphrey, Francis J. . . 1842—1851 

Harris, William 1844, 1845 

Horton, David W 1844—1846 

Harris, James W 1844—1846 

Howes, Osborn 1846—1850 

Hubbard, George 1847—1853 

Hutchinson, J. B 1847—1850 

Ilobbs, Alvah 1847—1853 

Hovey, James G 1848, 1849 

Horton, David E 1848 

Hackett, Hiram 1849 

Hey ward, Charles T 1850 

Howard, William P 1849 

Hunt, W. L. B 1850 



Hale, Theodore P 1850 

Hart, Nathaniel 1851—1855 

Homer, S. J. M 1851—1855 

Hammond, Thomas .... 1851 — 1855 

Hamblen, David 1851 — 1855 

Horton, Henry 1851 

Howland, Edwin 1852—1855 

Hall, Daniel 1852—1855 

Hinckley, John W 1853, 1854 

Harlow, Ivory 1853, 1854 

Hapgood, Warren 1853, 1854 

Hickey, Thomas H 1853, 1854 

Ilerrick, J. E. . 1853, 1854 

Hodges, R. M 1853, 1854 

Ilomans, Charles D 1853, 1854 

Ingraham, Joseph W. . . 1826—1848 
Irwin, Kev. John 1853, 1854 

Jackson, William 1820 

Jackson, Thomas 1820 

Jones, William 1824—1828 

Jones, Ezekiel 1825 

Jackson, Francis 1826—1835 

James, John W 1827—1831 

Jackson, J. B. S 1834, 1835 

Jackson, Edmund 1835 — 1851 

Jenkins, Solon 1835 — 1855 

Jones, Eben 1836—1849 

Jenkins, William C 1836—1842 

Josselyn, Lewis 1837 

Jarvis, William P 1838—1850 

Jenney, Stephen 1848 — 1855 

Jewell, Harvey 1851—1854 

Knapp, William 1827—1828 

Kent, Jacob II 1831 

Kimball, David . .1835; 1843—1853 

Kittredge, Josiah 1837 

Kimball, Joshua B 1841—1843 

Kemp, Nathaniel P 1844-1850 

Kingman, George 1851 — 1855 

Kneeland, Samuel, Jr 1851 

Kimball, Peter 1851, 1852 

Kimball, Otis 1851—1853 

Leland, Lewis 1818—1820 

Lincoln, Charles 1823—1826 

Lewis, Joseph 1823—1832 

Lane, George 1823—1826 

Loring, Charles G 1823 

Lowell, John, Jr 1825—1828 

Lorinix, John J 1828 

Lane," Jonas H 1830, 1831 

Lowell, Charles R 1832—1834 



APPENDIX. 



299 



Loringf, Ellis G 1832—1834 

Lincoln, Beza 1832 — 1838 

Lothrop, John P 1835 

Lodge, Giles II 1837—1840 

Leach, E. "W 1839—1841 

Leavitt, Joseph M 1840, 1841 

Leavitt, Benson 1841 — 1843 

Learnard, William II. . . 1842—1851 

Lincoln, Noah, Jr 1842, 1843 

Lincoln, Ezra, Jr 1843 — 1845 

Lovis, Ambrose 1842 — 1847 

Little, Eben H 1844—1855 

Learnard, Wm. H., Jr.. . 1849—1855 

Lincoln, Albert L 1850—1855 

Livermore, L. J 1850 

Lovejoy, William B 1851 

Lovett, S. Ingersol 1851 

Lincoln, Henry W 1851—1855 

Loud, Andrew J 1851 — 1855 

Lothrop, Joshua B 1851 

Little, Albert 1851 

Leonard, Marcus B 1853, 1854 

Lovell, Rev. Stephen .... 1853, 1854 

May, Samuel 1818—1820 

Marshall, Josiah 1818 

Mackintosh, Peter, Jr. . . 1819—1823 

Mansfield, Isaac 1820—1833 

Milton, Ephraim 1824—1826 

Merrill, James C 1824 

McKean, Joseph AV. ... 1827—1831 

Motte, Rev. M. 1 1830, 1831 

Monroe, Edmund 1830 

Mosely, Flavel 1831, 1832 

McCleary, John B 1833—1848 

Marvin, Theoph. R 1833—1855 

Mann, Nehemiah P 1833—1855 

Melien, John 1834, 1835 

Merrill, Nathan 1835, 183G 

Mead, John 1835 

Morrill, James 1836 

Morse, Samuel F 1836—1842 

Morris, L. H 1837, 1838 

Moriartv, Joseph 1838—1846 

Manning, Francis C 1838—1840 

Montgomery, Hugh 1838—1847 

McBurney, Rev. Sam'l. . 1839—1847 

Messenger, Eben T 1840—1848 

Minot, AVilliam, Jr 1843 

Merrill, Joseph W 1844—1847 

Makepeace, William 1846 

Mead, Charles 1846—1855 

Morgan, David 1847—1853 

McCleary, Sam'l F., Jr. . 1847—1851 
Mayuard, Azor 1847—1855 



Mudge, Alfred 1847—1852 

Merrill, George 1847—1849 

Melzar, Parker A 1847—1853 

Meston, John J 1848—1855 

Mears, Granville 1849, 1850 

McLellan, George W 1850 

Minot, Albert T 1850 

Moore, Edward B 1851 — 1854 

Merriam, R. L 1851—1853 

Martin, Pearl , 1852 

Minot, Francis 1853,1854 

Marsh, Lucius B. 1854 

Manson, Thomas L 1854 

Norwood, Samuel 1820 

Noyes, Daniel 1824—1826 

Norris, Rufus G 1838, 1839 

Newcomb, Harvey 1838, 1839 

Norcross, Loring 1839 — 1855 

Newhall, DanietB 1847—1852 

Newcomb, Thomas C. . . 1853, 1854 

Noyes, George N 1853, 1854 

Nichols, George B 1853 

Nutter, Charles C 1854 

Osgood, Isaac P 1824, 1825 

Otis, Geo. W., Jr 1827—1842 

Ordway, Aaron 1837—1844 

Oliver, Samuel P 1840—1855 

Odin, John, Jr 1841—1853 

Ober, John P 1842—1855 

Prince, James 1818 — 1820 

Phillips, Edward 1819 

Page, Thaddeus 1821—1824 

Prescott, William H 1821—1824 

Page, Edward 1823 

Pray, Lewis G 1823—1842 

Pillsbury, Samuel 1825 

Palfrey, William 1826—1836 

Parkman, Rev. Francis. 1826—1834 

Power, Thomas 1827-1831 

Pickering, Edward 1830 

Prescott, Edward G 1831, 1832 

Palmer, Ezra, Jr 1832, 1833 

Perkins, Benjamin 1833, 1834 

Perry, MarshaU S 1833, 1834 

Phelps, Abel 1834, 1835 

Parker, Aurelius D 1834 — 1855 

Palmer, Julius A 1835, 1836 

Phillips, Wendell 1836—1838 

Phillips, George W 1837 

Preston, John P 1839—1841 

Parkman, AVilliam 1839—1841 

Pratt, E. F 18^0, 1841 



300 



APPENDIX. 



Prince, Frederic 1841—1848 

Parker, William T 1842—1846 

Park. John C 1843—1847 

Phelps, Amos A 1844, 1845 

Parmenter, George W.. . 1844—1854 

Putnam, J. Phelps 1844—1846 

Patton, William W 1844, 1845 

Palmer, E. D. G 1846—1855 

Phelps, Charles A 1846—1849 

Parcher, Sewall F 1847—1850 

Perkins, Samuel S 1847, 1848 

Perkins, James 1848—1852 

Paiire, David 1848 

Parks, Luther, Jr 1849—1851 

Putnam, John 1849 

Procter, Israel P 1849 

Pdrkman, Francis 1849 

Prescott, Jeremiah 1849 

Preston, Jonathan 1850 

Plmimer, Avery, Jr. . . . 1852 — 1855 

Phipps, J. M 1852—1855 

Pmgrey, S. H 1853, 1854 

Porter, Edward F 1853, 1854 

Piiikerton, J. M 1853 

Piper, James S 1853, 1854 

Pond, Joseph A ,. 1854 

Rich, Benjamin 1818 

llichards, Reuben 1820—1827 

Robinson, Simon W 1825 

Reed, Sampson l<S2o — 1829 

Reed, Hodges 1826—1829 

Russell, William 1 826 

Robbins, Dr. Chandler . . 1827—1833 

Rogers, George 1827—1846 

Robinson, Horatio 1828—1831 

Russell, Aaron 1829—1832 

Rand, Rev. Asa 1831—1833 

Reynolds, Brewster 1835—1837 

Richardson, Joseph 1836, 1837 

Rogers, Henry B 1836-1838 

Restieaux, Thomas 1837—1855 

Richardson, A. J 1837—1841 

Richardson, Benj. P 1837—1854 

Robbins, Joseph 1842—1853 

Rich, Obadiah 1844—1851 

Rivmond, Freeborn F. . 1846—1852 
Uindall, Rev. Geo. M. . 1847—1852 

Richardson, John D 1847—1855 

Robinson, George W 1848 

Reed, Edward 1850 

Rice, Alexander H 1850, 1851 

Rankin, Ira P 1851, 1852 

Robbins, Charles 1851, 1852 

Eand, George C 1851—1853 



Richardson, Jackson. . . . 1851 — 1855 

Read, WiUiam 1853, 1854 

Richardson, Charles 1853, 1854 

Snelling, Nath'l G. 1818, .1819 ; 1824 

Savage, James 1818—1824 

Shurtleff, Benjamin 1818—1819 

Shattuck, George C 1819, 1820 

Sharp, Rev. Daniel 1818, 1819 

Snow, Caleb H 1821—1823 

Spooner, William J 1821—1830 

Stevens, Benjamin 1823 

Sumner, Bradford 1824 

Stoddard, Charles 1825—1833 

Streeter, Rev. Seb. 1826-28 ; 1850-55 

Snelling, George H 1826—1834 

Sampson, George A 1827—1835 

Scudder, Charies 1827—1829 

Spooner, John P 1829—1831 

Storer, D. Humphrey . . 1830—1832 

Stevens, John 1831 

Stimj^son, John 1832, 1833 

Stebbins, John B 1832—1842 

Savage, George 1832—1834 

Sumner, Frederic A. . . . 1833—1850 

Smith, Benjamin 1834 

Simpkins, Samuel G. . . 1834—1847 

Simonds, Alvan 1834 — 1855 

Sweet, Aaron 1837 — 1841 

Stevens, Ebenezer 1837 

Sewall, Samuel E 1838 

Safford, Henry 1838—1846 

Sargent, Rev. J. T 1838, 1839 

Stedman, Francis D 1838—1847 

Sayward, James PI 1838, 1839 

Snow, Asa 1839 

Sutherland, George, Jr 1839 

Stearns, Elijah 1839—1855 

Sargent, Howard 1841 

Simonds, Artemas 1840, 1841 

Snelling, Enoch H 1840—1855 

Swallow, Asa 1841—1844 

Skinner, Rev. Otis A. . . 1842—1855 

Stoddard, Lewis T 1842, 1843 

Stimpson, Frederic H. . . 1842—1849 

Stimpson, Chailes 1842—1850 

Smith, Thomas P 1842, 1843 

Story, Charies W 1843, 1844 

Sylvester, Adam 1843 

Sturtevant, George 1844 — 1853 

Spence, John, Jr 1844—1851 

Sanborn, Greenleaf C. . 1844—1852 

Soule, Richard, Jr 1846—1848 

Smith, Rev. Amos 1846, 1847 

Smith, J. V. C 1847—1855 



APPENDIX. 



301 



Sanford, Philo 1847; 1853, 1854 

Smith, Joseph 1847 — 1853 

Stevens, Seriah 1847 — 1852 

Sampson, George R. . . . 1847 — 1849 

Schmidt, Frederic 1847, 1848 

Sawyer, Frederic W 1848—1853 

Stevens, John A 1848 

Stevens, Benjamin F 1850 

Stone, Sawyer S 1850 

Stevens, N. C 1850—1855 

Snow, Asa B 1850—1852 

Sanford, Miles 1850 

Sherman, Charles J. F. . 1851 — 1855 

Sweetser, Frederic 1851 — 1853 

Southard, Zibeon 1851 — 1855 

Scudder, Henry A. ... 1851—1855 
Sykes, Rev. James H. . . 1852—1855 
Stockwell, Stephen N.. . .1853, 1854 

Smith, William E 1853, 1854 

Stackpole, S. A 1853, 1854 

Stephenson, George A 1853 

Shaw, Benjamin S 1854 

Sleeper, Jacob 1854 

Smith, Franklin W 1854 

Ticknor, Elisha 1818—1822 

Thurston, William 1818—1822 

Tappan, Lewis 1820—1825 

Ticknor, George 1821—1824 

Ticknor, Benjamin 1824, 1825 

Taylor, William 1824—1838 

Tuckerman, Rev. Joseph 1827—1828 

Thompson, John 1827—1834 

Tenney, Samuel 1829—1838 

Twombly, A. H.. .1829 ; 1833—1835 

Tilden, Calvin 1831 

Thompson, Thomas H.. . 1832—1838 

Ticknor, William D 1836—1850 

Teed, E. L 1838 

Tolman, James 1839—1847 

Thompson, Newell A. . . 1842—1847 

Tucker, Stephen 1844—1850 

Turner, Alfred T 1847—1852 

Thacher, William S 1847—1853 

Taylor, Gustavus 1848 

Tucker, Levi 1849—1851 

Townsend, Wilham E.. . 1848—1855 

Tolman, Samuel 1848—1855 

Turner, Charles A 1849—1855 

Thurston, Horace 1849 

Thayer, David 1851—1855 

Thorndike, William H. . . 1851, 1852 

Tyler, Charles C 1853, 1854 

Tilton, Stephen, Jr 1853, 1854 

Thaxter, McBean 1853, 1854 



Upham, William B 1842 — 1849 

Vose, Thomas 1833—1836 

Vinton, George 1836, 1837 

Ware, Rev. Henry 1818 — 1820 

Webster, Redford 1818 

Winchell, Rev. J. M 1818, 1819 

Winthrop, Thomas L. . . 1818—1822 

Wells, Benjamin T 1818 

Webb, Nathan 1818 — 1820 

West, Benjamin 1818, 1819 

Wait, Thomas B 1818—1822 

Wells, Thomas 1820—1830 

Wisner, Rev. B. B 1821 — 1828 

Williams, Moses 1821 — 1825 

Ware, John 1824, 1825 

Willis, Horatio M 1824 

Washburn, Calvin 1824 — 1829 

Ward, Richard 1824—1826 

Wiley, Thomas 1825—1832 

Watts, Francis 1825—1841 

Wigglesworth, Edward . 1826 — 1829 

Walker, Charles 1828—1835 

Whiton, James M 1832—1842 

Williams, Albert 1832—1834 

Wright, Winslow 1832 

Wright, Edmund, Jr 1832 

Walley, Samuel H., Jr. . 1832—1839 

Wait, William S 1832, 1833 

Wells, Rev. E. M. P 1834, 1835 

AVhiting, Calvin 1835 

Washburn, J. M. . 1836, 1837 

Wyman, Abraham G.. . . 1836—1855 

Wheeler, A. B 1836—1843 

Weston, E., Jr. 1836-1839 ; 1842, '43 

Weeks, William A 1837—1839 

Whipple, James K 1837—1841 

Wales, Samuel, Jr. 1837; 1847—1849 

Wheeler, Samuel 1837—1842 

Whitney, Warren J 1839—1844 

Wait, Richard G 1840, 1841 

Wiley, Henry G 1840—1843 

Wilder, Volney 1840—1847 

Wakefield, Enoch H 1842, 1843 

White, John, Jr 1842—1847 

Washburn, Henry S. . . 1842—1847 

AVatson, Abram A 1842—1855 

Wright, Albert J 1842—1855 

Woart, Rev. John 1844—1851 

Wiggin, Charles E 1844—1855 

Wood, Alexander 1846—1851 

Wiswell, D. W 1846—1855 

Wio'htman, Joseph M. . . 1846—1855 
Wilder, Thomas 1846—1855 



302 



APPENDIX. 



Williams, Moses B 1846 

White, Joseph F 1847—1855 

Whiting, James 1847 

Wright, Thomas S 1848—1850 

Wellington, Hiram 1850—1855 

Winkley, Kev. S. H 1850—1852 

Whipple, Samuel K 1850 

Willett, WilUam 1850 



Warren, John A 1851 

Weltch, Samuel 1853, 1854 

Wadsworth, Samuel 1853, 1854 

Williams, George F 1853, 1854 

Williams, Henry W 1853, 1854 

Winkley, Swain 1854 

Young, Joshua 1851, 1852 



The following names of Members were inadvertently omitted in their 
proper place: 

Dawes, Thomas 1854 

Metcalf, Nathan, Jr. . . . 1837—1855 



Binney, Matthew 1854 

Briggs, George W 1852—1854 



Condon, Samuel 1854 

Crane, Phineas M 1854 

Delano, William H 1847—1855 



Thayer, Lorenzo E 1854 

Woodman, Charles T. 1854 



APPENDIX. 



303 



PRIMARY SCHOOLS, 



ANNUAL EXPENDITURES. 



Financial Tears. 



June 1, 1818, to June, 

1819 

1819—1820 

1820—1821 

1821—1822 

1822—1823 

1823—1824 

1824—1825 

1825—1826 

1826—1827 

1827-1828 

1828—1829 

1829—1830 

1830—1831 

1831—1832 

1832—1833 

1833- 1834 

1834—1835 

1835—1836 

1836—1837 

1837—1838 

1838—1839 ., 

1839—1840 

1840—1841 

1841—1842 

1842—1843 

1843—1844 

1844—1845 

1845—1846 .... 

1846—1847 ..: 

1847—1848 

1848—1849 

1849—1850 

1850—1851 

1851—1852 

1852—1853 

1853—1854 , 

1854—1855 

Total 



Salaries and 
Incidental 
Expenses. 



$3,750 00 
8,000 00 
8,000 00 
8,375 00 
9,028 15 
10,510 00 
11,710 00 
12,581 56 
13,207 78 
14,045 91 
14,286 71 
14,373 46 
14,933 46 
16,491 88 
16,859 16 
17,364 70 
17,833 11 
19,403 32 
23,976 23 
26,787 00 
27,824 10 
29,905 35 
31,388 00 
32,924 55 
86,200 83 
38,814 17 
40,197 96 
42,028 53 
61,887 13 
70,127 99 
77,166 22 
80,146 92 
79,648 47 
80,746 78 
84,739 79 
81,881 43 
98,764 34 



$1,275,911 00 



For 
School-houses.* 



12,380 00 
9,646 99 
4,831 95 
12,623 32 
11,872 53 
15,609 35 
2,452 62 
12,457 25 
10,210 18 
9,926 14 
12,502 27 
16,570 86 
24,592 02 
39,290 46 
35,923 72 
17,756 86 
51,010 69 
56,221 16 
85,823 09 
22,121 66 
24,163 35 



$337,986 47 



No. of 
Schools. 



18 

20 

84 

35 

37 

42 

44 

48 

53 

56 

57 

59 

60 

62 

63 

66 

69 

72 

76 

80 

87 

91 

93 

97 

106 

114 

122 

146 

163 

166 

173 

176 

178 

189 

190 

194 

197 



No. of 
Pupils. 



815 

1,118 

1,666 

1,896 

1,909 

2,142 

2,463 

2,686 

2,938 

3,236 

3,354 

3,583 

3,700 

3,819 

3,927 

3,959 

4,479 

4,338 

4,369 

5,092 

5,103 

5,439 

5,846 

6,657 

7,206 

7,572 

7,595 

8,870 

9,838 

10,273 

10,875 

11,1.38 

11,376 

11,788 

11,868 

11,980 

12,172 



Total 
Expenditures. 



$3,750 00 

8,000 00 

8,000 00 

8,375 00 

9,028 15 

10,510 00 

11,710 00 

12,581 56 

13,207 78 

14,045 91 

14,286 71 

14,373 46 

14,933 46 

16,491 88 

16,859 16 

17,364 70 

30,213 11 

29,050 31 

28,818 18 

38,710 32 

39,696 63 

45,514 70 

33,840 62 

45,381 80 

46,411 01 

48,740 31 

52,700 23 

58,599 39 

86,479 15 

109,418 45 

113,089 94 

97,903 78 

130,659 16 

136,967 94 

120,562 88 

104,003 09 

122,927 69 



1,613,897 47 



*No appropriations were made for School-houses till 1834. 



304 



APPENDIX. 



COMPARATIVE TABLE OF THE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS, FOR THE 
HALF YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1854. 



Grammar School. 



District. 



East Boston. 

No. 1 

2 

3 

City. 

^ ! 

3 

* I 

^ I 

6 

7 

8 colored 

9 

" 1 

" i 

12 

13 

» ! 

- ! 

- I 

17 

- I 

19 

20 I 

Totals 



No. of the 
School. 



4 

4 

2 

6 

9 

7 

7 

8 

5 

8 

4 

3 

7 

6 

6 fboys) 

11 (gh-ls) 

14 

6 (boys) 

7 (girls) 

5 (boys) 

10 

5 (boys) 

8 (girls) 

4 (girls) 

6 (boys) 

5 

11 

7 

7 

9 



5 

7 



32 



5 S 



1444 






^S 



1276 1986 



455 



27 
42 

28 

22 
19 
9 
26 
22 
20 
20 
35 
32 
11 
28 
44 
35 
27 
17 
22 
16 
17 
17 
21 
30 
30 
33 
35 
29 
16 
25 

19 
10 



329 784 



45 
63 
46 

36 
30 
11 
47 
34 
27 
32 
51 
64 
25 
46 
72 
60 
42 
50 
50 
26 
30 
38 
34 
54 
60 
61 
55 
38 
27 
41 

32* 
14 



32 Schools. 1986 Pupils. Admitted 1444 ) 2720 changes in six months ! 
Discharged, 12(6 ) ° 

*^* In nine of the Schools in the above table, but one sex is admitted. 



APPENDIX 



305 



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